Twelve individuals have been arrested as part of an investigation into a fatal crash on the A66 that resulted in the deaths of seven people, including two police officers. The arrests, comprising nine men and three women aged between 19 and 61, were made across the Teesside area on suspicion of various offenses, including possession of a firearm and involvement with an organized crime group.
In the early hours of Saturday, a Volkswagen Passat, which had been pursued by police, traveled the wrong way down the A66 near Middlesbrough. The vehicle collided with an oncoming police car, leading to the deaths of the two officers, PC Tom Clough, 38, and PC Matthew Blades, 37, as well as the five occupants of the Passat: Michael Robert Cahill, 23; Jacob Matusiak, 23; Makai Saddington, 18; Theo Rae, 17; and Cole Robert Worthy, 17.
Cleveland Police stated that the investigation is focused on "serious criminal activity that resulted in this fatal incident." Earlier, the force provided further details regarding the events leading up to the crash and the individuals arrested.
The police received multiple reports on Saturday morning concerning two vehicles being driven dangerously. The first vehicle, identified as a Volvo XC60, was observed ramming properties in the Middlesbrough area. The second vehicle, the Passat, is believed to have been connected to this activity. Both vehicles were reportedly using cloned number plates but were detected by automated number plate recognition technology. The Volvo has since been recovered in Middlesbrough. Four of the five individuals in the Passat had prior convictions.
Assistant Chief Constable Wayne Fox described the investigation as "fast moving and complex." He added, "The events of that tragic night will have a lasting and profound impact on the Cleveland area and the communities we seek to protect. We have a duty to respond to, and thoroughly investigate, the serious criminal activity that resulted in this fatal incident and to bring all those responsible to justice."
