Nine men and three women, aged between 19 and 61, have been arrested as part of the investigation into a fatal crash on the A66. The collision, which occurred early Saturday, claimed the lives of seven people, including two police officers.
Police constables Matthew Blades, 37, and Tom Clough, 38, died when their police vehicle was struck head-on by a Volkswagen Passat traveling in the wrong direction near Middlesbrough. The crash happened approximately ten seconds after a police pursuit of the Passat was called off.
Cleveland Police stated that some of those arrested are suspected of "participating in the activities of an organised crime group." The force also noted that four individuals who died in the Passat had previous police convictions.
The occupants of the Volkswagen involved in the fatal crash were identified as Michael Robert Cahill, 23; Jacob Matusiak, 23; Makai Saddington, 18; Theo Rae, 17; and Cole Robert Worthy, 17.
Reports indicate that Saddington, 18, had previously posted videos on TikTok that appeared to show him in high-speed police chases. One clip, filmed in May and set to music, depicted him being driven in an Audi at high speed through a residential area with police lights in pursuit. Another video linked to his account showed a green Nissan being driven before being set alight, and other images showed him and a friend posing in cars while wearing balaclavas. Saddington was reportedly awaiting trial on charges of racially abusing and assaulting police officers.
