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Two police constables were named on Saturday following a fatal collision on the A66 in North Yorkshire that claimed seven lives, including the officers’ and five members of the public. The crash, which occurred just before 4am near South Bank and Middlesbrough, involved a marked Cleveland police vehicle and a Volkswagen Passat travelling the wrong way along the dual carriageway. PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough, both based in Cleveland, were pronounced dead at the scene alongside the other occupants. Victoria Fuller, chief constable of Cleveland police, described the day as “incredibly sad” and said the force was “devastated” by the loss of two officers who “didn’t return home to their families”.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct confirmed it had launched a mandatory investigation, stating the officers were pursuing a suspicious vehicle when the crash happened at 3.39am. Fuller said she had visited the families to offer condolences and that Cleveland police would “cooperate fully” with the watchdog. “While this investigation takes place, we strongly urge people to avoid speculation,” she added.
North East ambulance service deployed 14 units to the scene, including paramedics, a hazardous area response team, and a doctor from the Great North air ambulance. Despite the “best efforts of everyone attending”, a number of patients were confirmed dead at the scene. A spokesperson said the service sent “sincere condolences” to all affected and thanked emergency workers for their response under “incredibly difficult circumstances”.
Home secretary Shabana Mahmood said Cleveland police “have my support as they work to identify all those involved”. She added: “Police officers put their own safety on the line to protect their communities every single day. The two officers were on active duty, serving the people of Cleveland. My thoughts are with all those affected, their families, friends, the emergency services who attended the scene and the wider police family.”
Brian Booth, acting national chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales, said: “Our most sincere condolences go to the families, friends and colleagues of the two police officers, and multiple members of the public, who lost their lives in the tragic incident in Cleveland. Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this.” Lauren Somerville, chair of the Cleveland police federation, told reporters: “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. We will offer 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.” Anna Turley, MP for Redcar, said: “My heart goes out to every family, friend and loved one now facing the most unimaginable loss following this morning’s devastating accident on the A66. Two of the seven people who have lost their lives were Cleveland police officers, on duty serving our community. They went to work to keep people safe, and they should have come home to their families. Their loss will be felt deeply by their loved ones, fellow officers and right across the communities they served.”
The tragedy marks only the second occasion in 14 years that more than one officer has died on duty responding to the same incident. In September 2012, Greater Manchester officers Fiona Bone, 32, and Nicola Hughes, 23, were killed in a gun and grenade attack in Mottram, Tameside, during what was supposed to be a routine burglary call. They were lured to their deaths by Dale Cregan, who received a whole-life jail term in 2013. That earlier double fatality had shocked the nation; this latest crash on the A66 has done the same for Cleveland and the wider north of England.
**IOPC Investigation Underway**
