Twelve arrested after Middlesbrough crash kills five and two police officers
Twelve people have been arrested in connection with organised criminal activity linked to a fatal crash near Middlesbrough that killed seven, including two officers.
Twelve arrested after Middlesbrough crash kills two officers and five others
Twelve people have been arrested in connection with organised criminal activity linked to a fatal car crash near Middlesbrough, RTÉ News reports. The collision, which occurred in the early hours of Saturday on the A66, killed seven people — five occupants of a Volkswagen Passat and two police officers.
Cleveland Police said the five men travelling in the Passat — Cole Robert Worthy, 17, Theo Rae, 17, Makai Saddington, 18, Michael Robert Cahill, 23, and Jacob Matusiak, 23 — were pronounced dead at the scene. Pc Matthew Blades, 37, and Pc Tom Clough, 38, were killed when the Passat struck their marked armed response vehicle.
The Passat had been pursued by police for just under seven minutes after it was spotted in the area. Officers aborted the chase and continued on the correct side of the carriageway. Approximately ten seconds after the pursuit ended, the Passat, travelling the wrong way along the dual carriageway, collided with the vehicle carrying Pc Blades and Pc Clough, who had been called to assist with the search but were not part of the original pursuit.
Links to organised crime
Cleveland Police said four of the five men in the Passat had previous criminal convictions and were believed to be associated with another vehicle — a Volvo XC60 — that had been seen ramming properties in the Middlesbrough area earlier that morning. Both vehicles were operating with cloned number plates but were identified using automated number plate recognition technology. The Volvo has since been traced and recovered.
The force said it had received several reports that morning of two vehicles being driven dangerously before the crash occurred.
Nine men and three women, aged between 19 and 61, have been arrested in connection with alleged criminal activity in the lead-up to the collision. The alleged offences include possession of a firearm and participation in the activities of an organised crime group.
Assistant Chief Constable Wayne Fox said the investigation had moved quickly and carried "significant links to serious and organised criminal activity." He added: "We have a duty to respond to, and thoroughly investigate, the serious criminal activity that resulted in this fatal incident, and to bring all those responsible to justice."
Police also confirmed there was no evidence that activities filmed on Friday night and Saturday morning were intended for posting on TikTok.
Tributes to the officers
Flowers were laid beside the A66 close to the crash site in tribute to Pc Blades and Pc Clough. A paramedic left a card reading: "Thank you for your service. RIP." Other messages noted the lives and families behind the uniforms.
The family of Pc Clough described him as "our hero with a fantastic sense of humour" who was "always on public duty throughout his short life." The father-of-two, they said, "proudly fought for his country to make the world a better place" and "jumped into action whenever needed."
Pc Blades' wife described him in a statement issued through Cleveland Police as "my beloved husband, my best friend, and the most devoted father to our two young boys." She added: "He was loved beyond words by all his family and friends, and his loss has left a space that can never be filled. Our children will grow up knowing what an incredible father he was and will always be."
Fundraising for the families
More than £250,000 has been raised for the families of the two officers. A fundraiser established by the Cleveland Police Federation reached £228,000 by early Monday. Organisers said proceeds would be split equally between the two families, with the federation continuing to provide ongoing support. A separate fundraiser had raised more than £27,600.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct, which is overseeing the investigation, confirmed Cleveland Police launched the original chase after receiving intelligence relating to numerous incidents linked to the Passat.
Source: RTÉ News