Schools to close early again for A66 crash funeral
Schools in Middlesbrough are closing early to allow for the funeral of a teenager killed in a fatal car crash involving a police vehicle. The decision has sparked a political debate between local officials and Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch regarding school autonomy and government intervention.
Why it matters
The incident highlights the tension between local community management of tragedies and national political scrutiny over school operations.
Image source, Social media Image caption, Theo Rae (middle) was one of five men killed in a head-on crash with a police car
A number of schools will again close early on the day of the funeral for one of the men who died in a crash which killed seven, including two police officers.
Theo Rae, 17, was among the five in a car which went the wrong way down the A66 near Middlesbrough in the early hours of 22 August and hit an oncoming Cleveland Police vehicle.
Middlesbrough Council said some schools had chosen to close ahead of Monday's funeral, including a primary school which claimed the move would "ensure safe transit home for all our families".
Schools in neighbouring South Bank closed early on Friday for Jakub Matusiak's funeral, which police said "passed without issue" and with "very minimal traffic disruption".
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