Seven people have died, including two police officers, in a car crash following a chase in the early hours of Saturday morning, reports BritPanorama.
The two officers have been identified as PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough, according to Cleveland police chief constable Victoria Fuller during a press conference.
The incident occurred when a car travelling the wrong way down the A66 collided with a police vehicle on the same road going in the right direction, Cleveland Police stated.
Five members of the public in the Volkswagen Passat were also pronounced dead, though their identities have not yet been disclosed.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), confirmed it has launched an investigation into the fatal crash.
How did the crash occur?
Officers from Cleveland Police observed a Volkswagen Passat driving “suspiciously” and travelling on the wrong side of the A66 early on Saturday morning. They began following the vehicle before the collision, which occurred at 3:39 AM. The A66 was subsequently closed in both directions between Normanby Road and Church Lane in Eston due to the incident.
Police established cordons at both ends of the closed section, making the crash site inaccessible from the road. A large white tent has been erected over the scene, surrounded by multiple emergency service vehicles. Authorities have also implemented a drone exclusion zone in the area.
The closed portion of the A66 is situated near large industrial units and close to the major Teesworks site.
What have police said about the incident?
Prime Minister Andy Burnham expressed his devastation at the loss of life among the police officers and members of the public involved in the crash.
Chief Constable Victoria Fuller indicated that the Cleveland Police would fully cooperate with the investigation, urging the public to refrain from speculation during this period.
Cleveland Police Federation chairwoman Lauren Somerville remarked on the pain felt within the police community, stating, “Words cannot describe the pain the Cleveland Police family are feeling today. Our colleagues who should have been going home to their loved ones at the end of their shifts are not. And that is just unfathomable.” She assured that the federation would provide full support to the families affected, and the sacrifice made by their colleagues would never be forgotten.
What do we know about the victims?
PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough have been named as the two officers killed in the crash on the A66.
Authorities are still working to formally identify all occupants of the Volkswagen Passat but have begun notifying families of those who have been identified, offering them specialist support.
Anna Turley, MP for the Redcar constituency, stated, “They went to work to keep people safe and they should have come home to their families. Their loss will be felt deeply by their loved ones, fellow officers, and right across the communities they served.”
