- Seven people were killed in a crash at 3.39am yesterday in South Bank, including two police officers, PC Mathew Blades and PC Tom Clough.
- Cleveland Police are supporting the families of the five people who were travelling in the Volkswagen involved in the crash.
- PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher expressed his condolences, describing the events as 'truly devastating'.
- The Independent Office for Police Conduct has opened an investigation into the circumstances leading to the crash following a mandatory referral from Cleveland Police.
- A section of the A66 remains closed in both directions, with a Section 60 order in place until 7.15pm.
- Officers began a pursuit of a suspicious vehicle that ultimately collided with a police car on the A66.
- It is understood that the police vehicle in which PC Blades and PC Clough were travelling was not part of the pursuit.
Pc Matthew Blades, 37, and Pc Tom Clough, 38, tragically lost their lives in a wrong-way crash on the A66 near Middlesbrough early yesterday morning. The officers were responding to a suspicious vehicle when a Volkswagen Passat collided with their marked armed response vehicle.
Cleveland Police confirmed that the five individuals in the Volkswagen are being supported, although their identities have not yet been released. PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher expressed his condolences, stating, "The tragic events in Middlesbrough this weekend were truly devastating."234
The Independent Office for Police Conduct has initiated an investigation into the crash, which occurred at 3.39am in South Bank, following a mandatory referral from Cleveland Police. Reports indicate that the police vehicle was not involved in the pursuit of the Volkswagen at the time of the collision.1
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood also expressed their sorrow over the incident, with Mahmood stating her thoughts are with all affected. Meanwhile, a section of the A66 remains closed in both directions, and a Section 60 order is in effect, granting police additional stop and search powers until 7.15pm.5
“The Independent Office for Police Conduct has opened an investigation into the crash at 3.39am in South Bank after a mandatory referral from Cleveland Police. A Section 60 order, granting extra stop-and-search powers, remains in place near the site until 7.15pm.”
