Middlesbrough to pay tribute to officers killed in A66 crash
Middlesbrough will pay tribute to two Cleveland Police officers who died in the devastating A66 crash when the club hosts West Bromwich Albion tomorrow, reports BritPanorama.
PC Matthew Blades, 37, and PC Tom Clough, 38, were among seven individuals killed in the early hours of Saturday. They died when a Volkswagen Passat, travelling the wrong way along the A66 near Middlesbrough, collided head-on with their marked armed response vehicle. The five people travelling in the Passat also died.
The deceased young men were identified as 17-year-olds Cole Robert Worthy and Theo Rae, 18-year-old Makai Saddington, and 23-year-olds Michael Robert Cahill and Jakub Matusiak. The tragedy followed a series of alleged criminal incidents across Middlesbrough earlier that morning.
Cleveland Police received multiple reports of two vehicles being driven dangerously. A Volvo XC60 was noted to have rammed properties in the area and the Volkswagen Passat was believed to be associated with it. Both vehicles were reported to have been using cloned number plates and were identified by automated number plate recognition technology. The pursuit of the Passat lasted less than seven minutes.
PC Blades and PC Clough were not involved in the original pursuit; they had been called to assist with the search for the vehicle when the Passat entered the A66 carriageway travelling in the wrong direction, subsequently colliding with the officers’ vehicle.
All seven men died in the crash. Four of the young men in the Passat had previous criminal convictions, with links to serious and organised crime. Reports indicate prior offences related to illegal driving, aggravated vehicle taking, theft, drug offences, possession of a knife, and assaults on police officers. Among them, only Michael Cahill had no prior convictions.
Their deaths have impacted deeply on the Teesside community. PC Blades was described by family as a devoted father and much-loved husband, while PC Clough, a former Civil Nuclear Constabulary officer, is memorialised as a hero always willing to help others. Middlesbrough will provide supporters the opportunity to pay their respects before the match against West Brom.
The tribute, as confirmed in the club’s match programme, invites supporters to engage in honouring PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough for their dedication to the community. The crash has also initiated a significant police investigation, resulting in 17 arrests related to the events preceding the collision.
The police inquiries include allegations of participation in an organised crime group, possession of firearms, drug offences, assisting an offender, and threats to kill. Two individuals from the initial group of arrests have appeared in court on separate charges, as the investigation into the preceding criminal activities continues.
For Middlesbrough, tomorrow’s tribute will serve as a poignant reminder of the tragic loss, focusing on two officers who gave their lives while diligently protecting their community.
