Police officers killed in wrong-way crash mourned in 'unimaginable loss'
Two Cleveland police officers, PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough, were killed in a collision with a vehicle driving the wrong way on the A66 near Middlesbrough. The five occupants of the other vehicle also died, and the Independent Office for Police Conduct is currently investigating the incident.
Why it matters
The tragic loss of life has prompted a significant investigation into police pursuit protocols and road safety.
Image source, Owen Humphreys/PA Wire By Mallory Moench Published 6 minutes ago Two police officers killed in a wrong-way crash on the A66 near Middlesbrough have been remembered as "brave officers protecting our communities" in what has been described as an "unimaginable loss".
PC Matthew Blades, 37, and PC Tom Clough, 38, were killed when a Volkswagen Passat with five occupants said to be in their late teens, driving the wrong way, struck the Cleveland Police vehicle at about 03:39 BST on Saturday.
The teens, who were also killed, have not been named.
The BBC understands a police pursuit of the car had ended before the crash, with the police vehicle just happening to be in the South Bank area. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is now investigating.
Figure caption, Watch: Cleveland Police names the two officers who died in crash near Middlesbrough
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