Seven people including two police officers died after a Volkswagen Passat being pursued crashed head-on into a police car on a northeast England highway.
The collision occurred at 3:39 a.m. On Saturday, August 22, on the A66 in South Bank, near Middlesbrough Office for Police Conduct, which has launched an investigation. Officers from Cleveland Police had spotted the suspicious vehicle and begun a pursuit when the Passat travelled the wrong way on the road and slammed into the police car.
North East Ambulance Service dispatched 14 units to the scene, including ambulance crews, a specialist paramedic, a hazardous area response team and a doctor from Great North Air Ambulance Service. A spokesperson for the service said: “Sadly, despite the best efforts of everyone attending, a number of patients died at the scene. We send condolences to all of those affected by such a tragic event and thank everyone for all they did to help.”
The two officers killed have been identified as Matthew Blades and Tom Clough. The other five fatalities were occupants of the Volkswagen Passat. All seven died at the crash site, where a large white tent was erected and multiple emergency vehicles remained for hours.
A spokesperson for Cleveland Police confirmed the road closure would last for an extended period. “Around 3:39am this morning, a collision took place involving a police vehicle and a Volkswagen Passat on the A66 in South Bank,” they said. “Sadly, the collision has resulted in multiple fatalities. There are significant emergency vehicles on the scene, and the road will remain closed for some time. The public are asked to use alternative routes.”
The spokesperson added that officers were working to identify victims and contact their families. “This is a quickly evolving incident and we ask that members of the public respectfully avoid speculation,” they continued.
The IOPC opened its investigation at 6 a.m. Following a mandatory referral from Cleveland Police. Nicola Marfleet, the watchdog’s director of investigations, said: “This is a tragic incident, and my thoughts are with family and friends and all those affected, including the emergency services in attendance.”
Investigators have been sent to the scene to review evidence, with the IOPC cooperating with Cleveland Police to establish the events that led to the crash. The A66 remained closed in both directions between Normanby Road and Church Lane in Eston, with officers guarding both ends of the cordon. Police also imposed a drone exclusion zone around the collision site.
Anna Turley, MP for the Redcar constituency where the crash happened, issued a statement calling for restraint. “I am deeply saddened to hear of the fatal collision on the A66 this morning,” she said. “My thoughts are with the families and loved ones of those who have lost their lives, and with everyone affected by this terrible incident. Thank you to all of our emergency services, who have worked through the night responding to this devastating incident.”
Turley added: “We would ask everyone to avoid speculating online to respect the families and the police while they do their work at this terrible time.”
In the viral moment that preceded this tragedy, Cleveland Police officers had attempted to stop the Volkswagen Passat in the early morning hours, leading to a high-speed pursuit on a major Teesside artery. The chase ended when the suspect vehicle drove the wrong way and collided head-on with the police car, killing all involved instantly.
The IOPC investigation will examine the circumstances leading up to the pursuit and whether proper protocols were followed. The road closure and scene preservation were expected to continue through the weekend as forensic teams worked the site.