Seven Dead in Teesside A66 Collision After Police Pursuit Abandoned
Two Cleveland Police officers and five Passat occupants killed in head-on crash; watchdog investigates abandoned chase and alleged cloned plates.
Callum Smith
Two Cleveland Police officers died in a head-on collision on the A66 in Teesside while on duty.
Police Constables Matthew Blades, 37, and Tom Clough, 38, were killed in a collision.
The five young men driving the wrong way were identified as Jakub Matusiak, 23, Makai Saddington, 18, Michael Robert Cahill, 23, Theo Rae, 17, and Cole Robert Worthy, 17.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has launched an investigation into the crash, which occurred ten seconds after a seven-minute police pursuit of the Volkswagen was called off.
Cleveland Police initiated the pursuit after receiving intelligence related to numerous incidents linked to the Passat, which was believed to be using cloned plates.
Pc Blades and Pc Clough were called to assist with the search for the Passat; they were not involved in the original pursuit.
Makai Saddington was awaiting trial for alleged assault of a police officer and causing racially aggravated alarm or distress.
Saddington was reportedly involved in filming dangerous driving in TikTok videos before the fatal crash, with clips appearing to show him in high-speed police chases filmed in May.
Jakub Matusiak had also reportedly shared videos of himself joyriding on social media, showing him driving recklessly.
The deadly antics of the joyriders have been linked to a TikTok trend where individuals film themselves driving dangerously to provoke police into chasing them for views.
This crash happened less than a week after a similar fatal crash involving teenagers in Co. Kildare, Ireland, with a wave of clips on social media encouraging dangerous driving reportedly linked to both incidents.
The government has urged social media platforms to remove videos of dangerous driving. TikTok states its policies prohibit such content and that it is actively removing violating material.
Luke Pollard stated that if social media platforms were to regulate themselves and remove such content, not allowing their algorithms to share it, then "I think we’d be in a better place."
Matt Storey added that it is "a worrying situation if that’s becoming more prevalent because it is incredibly dangerous."
He gave his life in the line of duty, protecting and serving others with courage, dedication and selflessness.
A fundraiser for the families of the deceased officers had reached over £250,000.
Pc Matthew Blades' family stated, "He gave his life in the line of duty, protecting and serving others with courage, dedication and selflessness."
His wife described him as "my beloved husband, my best friend, and the most devoted father to our two young boys." She added, "He was an adored son and brother, a perfect son-in-law, and the most fun uncle."
She concluded, "Forever loved. Forever missed. Forever our superhero. Our Matt and Dad."
Pc Tom Clough’s family said, "He was our hero with a fantastic sense of humour. Jumped into action whenever needed, and willing to help anyone for any reason."
FC Hartlepool noted that he "was able to share his love of football with his son while inspiring and supporting every child on the team."
Pc Tom Clough’s family expressed their "sincere gratitude for the overwhelming support and condolences from friends, colleagues and the wider community."
A message dedicated to all five occupants of the Passat read, "We all knew use and knew use had hearts of gold and most loyalist lads."