A fundraising effort for two police officers killed in a highway crash has exceeded £1 million in donations. PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough died early Saturday when their vehicle was struck by a Volkswagen Passat traveling the wrong way on the A66 near Middlesbrough. The five occupants of the Passat also died in the collision.
The fundraiser was established by the Cleveland Police Federation. Among the contributions was £4,000 from the Cleveland branch of the National Association of Retired Police Officers.
Grant Thorburn, chair of the retired officers' association, stated that the deaths of Blades and Clough had a profound impact, and he found the tributes and donations to be "humbling." He noted the strong bonds within the Cleveland police force, describing it as a small, close-knit department where officers often know each other personally.
Paul Williams, acting deputy national chair of the Police Federation, described the "tremendous grief" felt by officers in Cleveland. He remarked that the incident underscored the vulnerability of police officers, adding, "The policing family is deeply scarred by this incident." Williams emphasized that officers are individuals with families and personal connections, serving as relatives, friends, parents, partners, and colleagues.
According to the Cleveland Police Federation, the funds raised will be divided equally between the families of the two deceased officers to be used as they see fit.