No 'deliberate' contact to stop car in A66 crash
An initial investigation by the police watchdog has found no evidence of tactical contact or stinger use by officers prior to a fatal crash involving a police vehicle and a car carrying five young men. The collision, which killed two police officers and the five occupants of the other vehicle, remains under a long-term investigation.
Why it matters
The incident highlights the dangers of high-speed police pursuits and the critical need for transparency in investigations involving law enforcement conduct.
Image source, Cleveland Police Image caption, PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough were killed in the collision
No evidence of "tactical contact" or the use of a stinger has been found before the A66 crash which killed five young men and two police officers, an initial investigation has revealed.
The crash between a Volkswagen Passat and a marked Cleveland Police vehicle happened at South Bank, near Middlesbrough, on 22 August and followed a police pursuit which was abandoned.
The initial investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said there was no evidence police had initiated contact with the Passat.
However, director of engagement, Emily Barry, said it will take the IOPC months to conclude its full investigation due to the amount of information to review.
PC Matthew Blades, 37, and PC Tom Clough, 38, who had not been following the Passat, were killed.
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