Schools to close early for A66 crash funeral
Four schools in Middlesbrough are closing early on Friday due to safety and traffic concerns surrounding a funeral for victims of a fatal A66 car crash. The decision follows discussions between local head teachers and the council, despite calls from a shadow minister to keep schools open.
Why it matters
The situation illustrates the tension between maintaining public order during sensitive community events and ensuring the continuity of education.
Image source, Social media Image caption, Jakub Matusiak (left) was one of five young men killed in the collision, along with Makai Saddington, Theo Rae, Michael Robert Cahill and Cole Robert Worthy
Four schools have said they will close early on Friday amid safety concerns over a funeral linked to a crash which killed seven people.
It is understood the funeral of Jakub Matusiak, 23, one of five young men killed in the head-on collision with a marked police car on the A66, is due to take place in Middlesbrough.
The crash happened near South Bank on 22 August when a Volkswagen Passat travelled the wrong way on the dual carriageway and hit a police car. Two police officers in the vehicle, PC Matthew Blades, 37, and PC Tom Clough, 38, were also killed.
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