The mother of Michael Cahill, 23, who died in a crash that killed two police officers, has proposed a tribute involving off-road vehicles gathering in a public field. Kelly Cahill, from Peterlee, County Durham, invited friends and family to bring 'bikes, jeeps, cars, and quads' to a patch of wasteland opposite the Whitehouse hotel on Thursday, stating she wanted to "give him the send off he deserves."
Her proposal has raised alarm among some local residents who believe the designated land is unsafe for such a gathering. One local expressed concern that accessing the field would require opening a locked gate and removing a barrier, and questioned the safety of a large number of off-road vehicles operating in the area, especially given its proximity to a main road. "I understand the family's need to commemorate him, but is this really the best way to do it?" the resident asked, hoping police would intervene.
Michael Cahill died on Saturday, August 22, along with four friends, when their Volkswagen Passat collided with a police vehicle. The Passat was traveling on the wrong side of the A66 at the time of the crash. The two officers killed were PCs Tom Clough and Matthew Blades.
In the aftermath of the crash, tributes for the five youths have also faced criticism. Balloon releases planned in Middlesbrough for Jakub Matusiak, Makai Saddington, Cole Worthy, and Theo Rae, have been opposed by environmental group Stop Balloon Releases North East, which warns of the dangers deflated balloons pose to animals and the environment. The group has urged the public to contact Middlesbrough Council to protest such releases.
The public's reaction to the proposed tributes for the youths stands in contrast to the widespread grief and support for the families of the two police officers. A GoFundMe page established by the Cleveland Police Federation has already raised significant funds, surpassing its initial target of £400,000 and moving towards a new goal of £700,000. The funds will be distributed to the families of PC Clough and PC Blades.
Details have also emerged regarding the past convictions of the five youths killed in the crash. Among them, Cole Worthy had convictions for offenses including threatening behavior and driving without a license. Jakub Matusiak faced charges for driving without insurance and a license. Makai Saddington had convictions for drug possession, assault on police, and racially aggravated harassment. Theo Rae had numerous convictions for shoplifting, theft, vehicle taking, and assault on a police officer.
One of the victims' relatives, Ryan Young, who identified himself as Theo Rae's uncle, reportedly claimed in a now-deleted social media post that the police had caused the crash by deploying a stinger device. Cleveland Police stated that the pursuit of the Passat was called off when the vehicle turned onto the wrong side of the A66 dual carriageway. Approximately 10 seconds later, it collided head-on with the police vehicle, which had been dispatched to monitor the Passat but was not involved in the pursuit.
Initial tributes for the youths included a vigil on Monday evening in South Bank, Middlesbrough, near the crash site. This event, which began as a balloon release, reportedly devolved into a display of flares, fireworks, and noise, with masked youths on motorbikes and quad bikes present. This contrasted with a separate, more somber prayer vigil held in a church to honor the two fallen officers.