Seven people have died, including two police officers, in a “devastating”car crash following a chase in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Police had been following a Volkswagen Passat which was suspected of being driven with cloned number plates, but aborted the pursuit after the car started driving the wrong way down the A66 in Southbank, near Middlesbrough.
Ten seconds later, the VW collided with an oncoming Cleveland Police armed response vehicle which was not involved in the pursuit.
The two officers, who died at the scene, have been named as PC Matthew Blades, 37, and PC Tom Clough, 38.
Five young men travelling the VW were also killed. They have been named as Makai Saddington, 18, Michael Robert Cahill, 23, Theo Rae, 17, Cole Worthy, 17, and Jakub Matusiak, 23.
The police watchdog the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) confirmed it has launched an investigation into the fatal crash.
Below is everything we know about the incident so far.
How did the crash occur?
Cleveland Police launched a pursuit after spotting a Volkswagen Passat which was acting “suspiciously”, the force said in the aftermath of the fatal crash.
Analysis of the police vehicle in-car footage shows the chase lasted just under seven minutes before the Passat travelled onto the A66 against the flow of traffic, at which point the pursuit was aborted, according to the IOPC.
Just 10 seconds later, the Passat collided with another police vehicle which was not involved in the pursuit. It was in the area to assist in a search for the Passat, which had triggered an ANPR camera.
Fourteen ambulance crews rushed to the scene, including emergency ambulance crews, a specialist paramedic, a Hazardous Area Response Team and a doctor from Great North Air Ambulance Service. Despite their best efforts, all the occupants of both cars were pronounced dead at the scene.
Doorbell footage from nearby Lime Road appears to show multiple police vehicles chasing a car at speed moments before Saturday's fatal crash.
The footage was filmed at 3:36am - three minutes before the Passat collided with the marked police vehicle.
The A66 was closed in both directions between Normanby Road and Church Lane in Eston as a result of the smash as investigators examined the wreckage. A large white tent was erected over the scene, with multiple emergency service vehicles around.
The closed section of the A66 is bordered by large industrial units to the north and is close to the major Teesworks site.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), confirmed they had launched an investigation into the “tragic incident” following a mandatory referral from the local force.
In an update on Sunday, IOPC director of engagement Derrick Campbell said: “We have obtained initial accounts of officers involved in the pursuit, the incident log and in car footage of the incident. Work is ongoing to obtain additional material.
“IOPC investigators will continue to review and analyse all the evidence that is available to us. We will not be providing any further comment at this time.”
What have police said about the incident?
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he was “devastated” to hear of the deaths of two police officers and five members of the public in a crash near Middlesbrough in the early hours of this morning.
Chief Constable Victoria Fuller, of Cleveland Police, said the force would co-operate fully with the investigation as she urged the public not to speculate on the circumstances of the crash.
“This is an incredibly sad day for Cleveland,” she said in an emotional statement delivered outside the force’s Middlesbrough headquarters. “This loss is being felt across our communities, by our police family, and by our partner agencies.
“These were brave officers, protecting our communities and serving our residents. Who didn’t return home to their families at the end of their shift.
“My thoughts, and the thoughts of everyone at Cleveland Police, are with their families, friends, colleagues and loved ones at this incredibly difficult time.
“Earlier today, the Deputy Chief Constable and I visited Matthew and Tom's families to offer our condolences, support one another, and begin to come to terms with this unimaginable loss.”
Cleveland Police Federation chairwoman Lauren Somerville added: “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.
“Cleveland Police Federation will be offering full support to our fallen colleagues’ families and they have all of our love and care at this time.
“When the time is right we will pay full tribute to our brave colleagues. But we can assure that their sacrifice will never be forgotten.”
What do we know about the victims?
The two police officers killed in the crash have been named as PC Matthew Blades, 37, and PC Tom Clough, 38.
Husband and father-of-two PC Blades’ wife paid tribute to him on Sunday evening, saying the pain of her loss was “beyond words”.
"No words will ever feel like the right words to honour our Matt — my beloved husband, my best friend, and the most devoted father to our two young boys,” she said. "He was an adored son and brother, a perfect son-in-law, and the most fun uncle. He was loved beyond words by all his family and friends, and his loss has left a space that can never be filled.
"He gave his life in the line of duty, protecting and serving others with courage, dedication and selflessness.
"The pain of losing him is beyond words, and our lives will never be the same. Neither will the love he gave us ever fade. "Our children will grow up knowing what an incredible father he was and will always be, and I will carry his love, his memory and everything we shared with me always.
"He may have left this world committed to the duty he believed in, but his greatest legacy will always be the love he gave to his family.
He had recently become a Seaton Carew FC coach and was preparing for his first turn teaching its under-sevens Seahawks squad.
“He was looking forward to being part of the team and, most importantly, to coaching his own son, who is going to be playing for the Seahawks this season,” the club said on social media.
FC Hartlepool also described PC Blades as a “much-loved member of our football family” and “so much more than a coach”.
“He was a role model, a mentor, a friend, and someone the children looked up to and admired,” the club said.
PC Clough’s family paid tribute to him in a statement on Sunday afternoon, describing him as “our hero” with a “fantastic sense of humour”.
“Jumped into action whenever needed, and willing to help anyone for any reason,” they continued. “Proudly fought for his country to make the world a better place. Always on public duty throughout his short life.
"We as a family and Tom's partner would like to express our sincere gratitude for the overwhelming support and condolences from friends, colleagues and the wider community".
Tributes have also been paid to the five young men travelling in the VW Passat, who were aged between 17 and 23.
In a post on Facebook, Sharon Morgan said she had lost her “beloved nephew” Makai Saddington, aged 18, from Middlesbrough.
“There are no words that can truly express the pain of losing someone so young, so loved, and so full of life,” she wrote.
Grieving mother, Kelly Cahill, paid tribute to Michael Robert Cahill, adding: “Fly high my boy forever 23 go and be at peace with ya dad keep me a place up there till will we meet again [sic].”
Anna Turley, MP for the Redcar constituency where the accident happened, said on Sunday morning the “whole community is reeling”.
She told Sky News: “I want to particularly put on record my tribute to our incredibly brave police officers, PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough, because we know our police officers every day, every night put themselves into action to protect our communities, to keep them safe.
“And I want to acknowledge their bravery, but I also want to recognise that we’ve lost seven lives tragically and the whole community is obviously in shock and devastation.”
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