Two police officers and five civilians were killed in a head-on collision on the A66 in Middlesbrough. The crash occurred when a Volkswagen Passat, reportedly traveling at high speed, drove the wrong way on the road and collided with a marked armed-response vehicle at 3:39 a.m.
PC Matthew Blades, 38, and PC Tom Clough, 37, were declared dead at the scene along with the five occupants of the Passat. Cleveland Police confirmed the officers were on the correct side of the A66 at the time of the collision. Ring doorbell footage captured the Passat speeding through Middlesbrough's streets approximately three minutes before the crash. Police had reportedly halted a pursuit of the vehicle when it entered the A66 and drove into the path of the oncoming patrol car. It is understood the two officers killed were not involved in the initial pursuit.
Social Media Videos Emerge
Following the crash, it emerged that Makai Saddington, 18, one of the teenagers in the Passat, had posted numerous videos on TikTok appearing to show him participating in high-speed police chases. One clip from May, filmed by a passenger, shows a vehicle being driven at speed through a housing estate with police lights flashing. Another video, posted within the last month, depicts the car driving through a park while being pursued by police. Other content associated with Saddington includes footage of a car being set alight and images of individuals posing in cars while wearing balaclavas.
These videos are part of a trend where young men film themselves evading police at high speeds and share the content on social media. The incident follows a similar fatal crash in Ireland the previous week, where five teenagers died when their stolen BMW, traveling the wrong way on the M9 motorway, collided with another vehicle. The occupants of the Irish crash were also reportedly filming themselves.
Tributes and Investigations
Flags at Cleveland Police headquarters were lowered to half-mast in tribute to the fallen officers. Chief Constable Victoria Fuller visited the families of PC Blades and PC Clough to offer condolences. She described the deceased officers as brave individuals who were protecting the community and did not return home to their families. Lauren Somerville, chair of the Cleveland Police Federation, expressed the profound grief felt by the police family.
Local MP Anna Turley stated that the officers went to work to keep people safe and should have returned to their families. The five teenagers who died in the A66 crash have not yet been formally named, and their families are being supported by specialist liaison officers.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct has opened an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the fatal crash. Chief Constable Fuller urged the public to avoid speculation out of respect for the bereaved families. Emergency services, including 14 ambulances and specialist paramedics, responded to the scene, but sadly, multiple fatalities were confirmed. Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp extended their condolences to all those affected by the tragedy.