Flares and balloons at A66 crash vigil spark anger after two officers killed

A vigil for victims of the A66 crash near Middlesbrough drew controversy after flares were set off and balloons released. Two police officers and five others died in the collision.

Anger as flares light the sky at South Bank vigil following deadly A66 collision

A vigil held to commemorate the victims of a fatal crash on the A66 near Middlesbrough descended into controversy after young people on scooters, off-road bikes and quad bikes arrived wearing masks and set off orange and red flares, filling the sky with smoke, the Daily Express reports.

The silent prayer vigil took place at St John the Evangelist Church in South Bank on Monday, where hundreds gathered in a nearby field to release balloons and pay tribute. The Times reported that the flares were carried by boys on bikes, who arrived alongside those attending the more sombre proceedings.

Locals expressed anger at balloon releases held in memory of the young men who died in the Passat. "It's disgraceful, the tributes should just be for the bobbies who died," one resident said. Further balloon releases have since been announced at various locations.

Pc Matthew Blades, 37, and Pc Tom Clough, 38, were killed in the early hours of Saturday when the Volkswagen Passat — which had been under police pursuit — was driven the wrong way along the dual carriageway and struck their marked armed response vehicle.

The five occupants of the Passat also died at the scene: Cole Worthy, Theo Rae, 17, Makai Saddington, 18, and 23-year-olds Michael Robert Cahill and Jacob Matusiak.

Cleveland Police had previously stated that on the morning of the collision it received multiple reports of two vehicles being driven dangerously in the area.

Investigations into the events surrounding the crash have since widened significantly. On Tuesday, Cleveland Police announced that five further arrests had been made, bringing the total number of people detained to 17. The additional arrests were carried out with the assistance of the National Crime Agency and the North East Regional Organised Crime Unit.

Source: Daily Express