UK government orders TikTok to pull dangerous wrong-way driving videos after A66 crash kills seven
Two police officers and five young men died in a fatal A66 crash in Teesside. The UK government has since demanded TikTok remove videos glorifying wrong-way driving.
UK urges TikTok to remove wrong-way driving content after seven killed in Teesside crash
The UK government has directed social media platforms, including TikTok, to remove videos celebrating dangerous wrong-way driving, BreakingNews.ie reports, following a crash in Teesside that killed two police officers and five young men.
Pc Matthew Blades, 37, and Pc Tom Clough, 38, died after a Volkswagen Passat — which had been pursued by Cleveland Police — was driven the wrong way along the A66 dual carriageway and struck their marked armed response vehicle. Cole Robert Worthy, 17, Theo Rae, 17, Makai Saddington, 18, and 23-year-olds Michael Robert Cahill and Jacob Matusiak were also pronounced dead at the scene in the early hours of Saturday.
Suspect had pending court case against police
Court records show that Saddington had been charged with assaulting a police officer and causing racially aggravated alarm or distress to another person in Middlesbrough on 9 June. He appeared before Teesside Magistrates' Court on 17 July and was awaiting trial at the time of the crash. It has also been reported that Saddington was involved in filming dangerous driving for TikTok videos prior to the fatal collision.
Defence minister calls on platforms to act
Defence minister Luke Pollard told BBC Radio 5 Live that the government had already contacted platforms hosting such content. "We've communicated to those social media platforms that have been hosting content that celebrates this type of dangerous behaviour on our roads to take down that content," he said.
Pollard argued that platforms had repeatedly insisted they were capable of self-regulation. "This is the perfect opportunity to demonstrate it," he said. "Remove the content that celebrates dangerous behaviour on our roads."
He added that the government would use powers under the Online Safety Act to compel platforms to act where voluntary removal failed. "While that content is online, the Government will be using the powers in the Online Safety Act to compel the platforms to take it down," Pollard said. He also criticised the financial incentive structure that rewards users for generating high-view content, describing the material as "awful."
Police commissioner urges against speculation
Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner Matt Storey acknowledged the reports about TikTok videos but cautioned against rushing to conclusions. Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, he said: "Without being able to say whether that was anything like involved in this case, it's absolutely idiotic for anybody to be doing anything other than being completely 100% focused on the road when they're behind the wheel of a vehicle."
Storey described the prospect of filming while driving as "absolutely ridiculous" and said the trend was "incredibly dangerous" if it was becoming more common.
Chase lasted under seven minutes
According to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, which is investigating the incident, Cleveland Police launched the pursuit after receiving intelligence linked to "numerous incidents" involving the Passat. The car had triggered an ANPR camera and is believed to have been fitted with cloned number plates.
Pc Blades and Pc Clough were not part of the original pursuit but had been called to the area to assist with the search for the vehicle. The Passat was spotted and an armed response vehicle gave chase for just under seven minutes before the car entered the A66 in South Bank travelling against the flow of traffic. Police aborted the chase and continued on the correct side of the carriageway. The Passat struck the officers' vehicle approximately ten seconds after the pursuit was called off.
Families pay tribute to officers
Family members of Pc Clough, a father of two and former Civil Nuclear Constabulary officer, described him as "our hero" who was "always on public duty." In a statement, his family said: "He gave his life in the line of duty, protecting and serving others with courage, dedication and selflessness."
Pc Blades' wife, in a statement issued through Cleveland Police, described him as "my beloved husband, my best friend, and the most devoted father to our two young boys." She said: "Our children will grow up knowing what an incredible father he was and will always be, and I will carry his love, his memory and everything we shared with me always." She concluded: "Forever loved. Forever missed. Forever our superhero. Our Matt and Dad."
Tributes for the five young men also circulated on social media, with friends describing themselves as "heartbroken" and "lost for words." One message, addressed to all five, read: "We all knew use and knew use had hearts of gold and most loyalist lads."
Fundraiser surpasses £250,000
A fundraiser set up by the Cleveland Police Federation for the families of the two officers had raised more than £250,000 by Monday morning.
Source: BreakingNews.ie