The grieving families of two police officers killed in a head-on collision have hailed them as heroes following a tragic crash on the A66 dual carriageway in Teesside. PC Matthew Blades, 37, and PC Tom Clough, 38, died when a Volkswagen Passat traveling against the flow of traffic crashed into their marked armed response vehicle early on Saturday, according to BBC News.
Families Pay Tribute After Fatal A66 Crash
The collision also resulted in the deaths of the five occupants inside the Volkswagen Passat: Cole Robert Worthy, 17, Theo Rae, 17, Makai Saddington, 18, along with 23-year-olds Michael Robert Cahill and Jacob Matusiak. All five individuals were pronounced dead at the scene, as reported by The Independent.
Pursuit Details and Investigation
According to the Radionewshub report, Cleveland Police had received intelligence regarding numerous incidents linked to a Volkswagen Passat that activated an automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) camera and is believed to have been using cloned plates. An armed response vehicle initiated a pursuit that lasted just under seven minutes.
The vehicle eventually drove onto the A66 in South Bank against the flow of traffic. Police officers aborted the chase and continued traveling on the correct side of the carriageway, but the Passat collided with PC Blades and PC Clough’s vehicle approximately 10 seconds after the pursuit ceased. The Independent Office for Police Conduct confirmed that PC Blades and PC Clough were not involved in the original pursuit, but had been called to the area to assist with the search.
Heartfelt Tributes From Loved Ones
In statements released through Cleveland Police, the families expressed profound sorrow and paid tribute to the fallen officers. PC Blades’ wife described him as her best friend and a devoted father to their two young sons, stating, He gave his life in the line of duty, protecting and serving others with courage, dedication and selflessness,
and adding, Forever loved. Forever missed. Forever our superhero.
Beyond his police work, PC Blades was a football coach who recently joined Seaton Carew FC.
PC Clough’s family similarly honored his memory, noting that he had proudly fought for his country in British Army campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan before serving as a Metro-covered Cleveland Police officer. His family shared that he possessed a fantastic sense of humor, jumped into action whenever needed, and remained always on public duty.
Community Support and Fundraisers
The tragedy sent shockwaves through the local community, prompting widespread condolences from colleagues, friends, and public figures. Anna Turley, MP for the Redcar constituency where the accident occurred, stated that the close-knit community was reeling from the event.
In the aftermath of the crash, supporters rallied around the victims’ relatives. A crowdfunder established to support the families of PC Blades and PC Clough raised substantial contributions, including more than £100,000 within hours according to reporting from Newswav, alongside separate federation fundraising efforts to help the families navigate the traumatic period.
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