Several schools in Middlesbrough are closing early on Friday as a precautionary measure ahead of the funeral for Jakub Matusiak, one of five young men who died in a head-on collision with a police car on the A66. At least four educational institutions have announced early closures to ensure the safety and well-being of pupils, citing concerns over large crowds, potential disruption, and traffic congestion.
The funeral service for Matusiak, 23, is scheduled to take place at St John the Evangelist Church in South Bank, Middlesbrough. This is the same venue where a silent prayer vigil was previously held for PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough, two of the police officers who also died in the crash. The proximity of the funeral to the local community has raised fears of widespread disruption and potential violence, echoing incidents that occurred during previous vigils and tributes.
Recent memorial events for those involved in the crash have seen considerable disorder. Reports from previous tributes describe off-road vehicles racing through residential areas, the setting off of flares and fireworks, and instances of cars being set alight. Social media posts indicate that mourners are expected to gather in large numbers with various vehicles, including bikes and quad bikes, for Matusiak's funeral. One associate of Matusiak posted an invitation for attendees to bring "as many bikes quads jeeps anything let’s send him of how he would love."
South Bank Primary School stated in a message to parents that the early closure was to "ensure the safety and wellbeing of our pupils." Headteacher Tammy Cooper added that the large number of expected attendees would "inevitably cause congestion and transport disruption in the immediate area." The school also acknowledged that some pupils might feel "upset or anxious" and that its pastoral team would be available to provide support.
Other schools, including Archway Academy Teesville, Outwood Academy Normanby, St Margaret Clitherow’s Catholic Primary School, and Mackenzie Thorpe School, are also implementing full or partial early closures. These decisions come in the wake of a series of incidents in the Teesside area that have led to public concern.
The fatal crash occurred on August 22 when a stolen Volkswagen Passat collided with a marked Cleveland Police armed response vehicle on the A66. In addition to Matusiak, the occupants of the Passat who died were Cole Worthy, 17; Theo Rae, 17; Makai Saddington, 18; and Michael Cahill, 23. All were pronounced dead at the scene, as were PC Blades and PC Clough. Investigations revealed that four of the young men in the Passat had prior criminal convictions, including for assaulting a police officer and vehicle offences. Michael Cahill had no previous convictions, but a memorial event for him in County Durham reportedly involved vehicles being set on fire.
Cleveland Police has since arrested 27 individuals in connection with serious and organised crime in the aftermath of the crash. The force drafted in over 200 additional officers from other areas to assist with this crackdown. Meanwhile, a fundraiser established for the families of the two deceased police officers surpassed its £1.2 million target earlier this week. Organizers stated that the funds raised would be divided equally between the officers' families, with ongoing support provided by the Police Federation.