Two more arrested in Middlesbrough after vehicle ramming — 27 held since A66 crash

Two men were arrested on suspicion of firearm possession after a vehicle ramming in Middlesbrough. Total arrests now stand at 27 since the A66 crash that killed five men and two officers.

Two more arrests after vehicle ramming in Middlesbrough, bringing post-A66 crash total to 27

Two men have been arrested in Middlesbrough on suspicion of possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, eight days after a head-on collision on the A66 killed five young men and two police officers, The Independent reports.

Cleveland Police said the incident occurred when a vehicle rammed another on Derwentwater Road at around 11pm on Sunday. A 19-year-old was arrested at a property in Burns Road, while a 24-year-old was detained nearby around half an hour later. Both remained in custody on Monday.

The arrests bring the total number of people held since police began investigating the A66 crash in the early hours of Saturday 22 August 2026 to 27.

A separate case also emerged over the weekend: an 18-year-old appeared before Teesside Magistrates' Court on Monday charged with dangerous driving after his car was spotted being driven dangerously in the town on Saturday afternoon. He was remanded in custody.

Assistant Chief Constable Wayne Fox said Cleveland Police would not stop pursuing those involved in serious and organised crime. "These latest developments now take the total number of arrests since we started investigating the incidents in the early hours of Saturday August 22 2026 to 27 and I can assure the public that they will not be the last," Fox said. "We are investigating around the clock and we thank the public not only for their support and patience while we conduct numerous inquiries, but also for the information we are receiving."

Around 200 officers from outside Cleveland Police have been drafted in to assist the force in tackling organised crime following the original crash.

Pc Tom Clough, 38, and Pc Matthew Blades, 37, died when their marked response vehicle was struck by a Volkswagen Passat travelling the wrong way along the dual carriageway. Cole Worthy, 17, Theo Rae, 17, Makai Saddington, 18, Michael Cahill, 23, and Jakub Matusiak, 23 — all travelling in the Passat — were also killed. Four of the five had criminal records, and police have said there may be links to serious and organised criminal activity.

A separate incident earlier in the week saw seven-year-old Valentina Foster and her aunt Natalie McDonaled, 34, killed in a house fire in Birchington Avenue, Grangetown. A murder investigation was launched, though police have since ruled out any connection to the A66 crash or their wider organised crime inquiries.

On Sunday, Pc Blades' sons led out Manchester United at Old Trafford ahead of their match against Ipswich Town.

Source: The Independent