PCs killed in wrong-way A66 crash were heroes, say families
Two police officers, PC Tom Clough and PC Matthew Blades, were killed in a collision with a vehicle traveling the wrong way on the A66 near Middlesbrough. The occupants of the other vehicle also died in the crash, and the officers are being remembered by their families as heroes.
Why it matters
The tragic loss of life in a high-speed police pursuit highlights the inherent dangers faced by law enforcement in the line of duty.
Image source, Cleveland Police Image caption, PC Matthew Blades (left) and PC Tom Clough were killed in a crash near Middlesbrough on Saturday
Two police officers who died when a car travelling the wrong way down a dual carriageway crashed into their vehicle have been hailed as heroes by their families.
PC Tom Clough, 38, and PC Matthew Blades, 37, died when a Volkswagen Passat, which officers had been pursuing until seconds before, collided with their marked armed response car on the A66 near Middlesbrough on Saturday.
The Passat's occupants - Michael Robert Cahill, 23, Jacob Matusiak, 23, Theo Rae, 17, Makai Saddington, 18, and Cole Robert Worthy, 17 - also died.
In tributes released by Cleveland Police, PC Clough's family said he had been "willing to help anyone", while PC Blades' wife described him as "loved beyond words".
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in