Seven people, including two police officers, died early on Saturday following a collision on the A66 dual carriageway near Middlesbrough. The crash occurred at approximately 3:39 a.m. in South Bank, Teesside, when a Volkswagen Passat travelling the wrong way struck a marked armed response vehicle.

The five passengers in the Volkswagen — identified as Cole Robert Worthy, 17; Theo Rae, 17; Makai Saddington, 18; Michael Robert Cahill, 23; and Jacob Matusiak, 23 — were all killed in the collision. Officers PC Matthew Blades, 37, and PC Tom Clough, 38, both serving with Cleveland Police, also died. The two officers were travelling in the correct direction and had been called to the area to assist in the search for the vehicle using cloned number plates.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has launched an investigation into the events leading up to the crash following a mandatory referral from Cleveland Police. According to the IOPC, police had recently ended a pursuit of the suspect vehicle prior to the collision, and the officers involved in the crash were not part of the original pursuit but were responding in support.

Cleveland Police Chief Constable Victoria Fuller described the deceased officers as “brave,” paying tribute to their service and commitment to protecting the community. She expressed condolences to their families and colleagues.

Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner Matt Storey, whose jurisdiction includes Middlesbrough and surrounding areas, said the force was like a “tight-knit family” and noted the deep impact the loss would have on officers and the local community. Storey also cautioned against the spread of unverified information on social media, emphasizing that the IOPC and the police would provide official accounts following their inquiries.

Anna Turley, Labour MP for Redcar — the constituency where the accident happened — said the community was in shock and praised the professionalism of Cleveland Police amid the tragedy. She described the force as a “close-knit” and dedicated “police family” that would continue their duties despite the loss.

Lauren Somerville, chairwoman of the Cleveland Police Federation, conveyed the profound grief felt within the police family, highlighting that the officers who lost their lives were expected to return home to their loved ones but tragically did not.

Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash as the community mourns the loss of the seven victims.