Two Cleveland Police officers have been remembered as dedicated and selfless public servants after they were killed in a devastating head-on collision on the A66 dual carriageway near South Bank, Middlesbrough. PC Matthew Blades, 37, and PC Tom Clough, 38, lost their lives early on Saturday morning when a car travelling in the wrong direction struck their marked armed response vehicle. Five other people in the other car also died in the crash, bringing the total number of fatalities to seven.

The incident occurred at around 3.39am. According to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), officers had been pursuing a Volkswagen Pᴀssat for just under seven minutes after it was identified as a suspicious vehicle believed to be using cloned number plates. The pursuit was aborted approximately 10 seconds before the crash when the Pᴀssat entered the A66 against the flow of traffic. The police car involved in the fatal collision was not part of the pursuit itself but was in the area to ᴀssist with the search for the vehicle.

The five people travelling in the Pᴀssat who also died have been named as Cole Robert Worthy, 17; Theo Rae, 17; Makai Saddington, 18; Michael Robert Cahill, 23; and Jacob Matusiak, 23. Family liaison officers from Cleveland Police have been supporting the relatives of all those who lost their lives. An independent investigation by the IOPC is underway, which is standard procedure following any death involving police officers. Investigators are examining in-car footage, incident logs and statements from officers involved.

Cleveland Police released official pH๏τographs of the two officers along with deeply personal tributes from their families. PC Clough’s family described him as “our hero with a fantastic sense of humour” who always stepped forward to help others. They said he had proudly served both his country and the public throughout his life and expressed sincere graтιтude for the overwhelming support shown by friends, colleagues and the wider community.

PC Blades’ wife issued a moving statement in which she said the pain of losing him was “beyond words” and that the family’s lives would never be the same. She described him as her beloved husband, best friend and the most devoted father to their two young sons. She said he gave his life while protecting and serving others with courage and selflessness, and that his greatest legacy would always be the love he showed his family. A local football club also paid tribute, remembering Blades as a newly appointed coach who had been looking forward to working with his son’s under-sevens team.

Chief Constable Victoria Fuller described the day as “incredibly sad” for Cleveland and said the loss was being felt across the force, partner agencies and the wider community. She noted that the two officers were brave men who did not return home to their families at the end of their shift. Senior political figures, including the local Member of Parliament and the Prime Minister, also offered condolences and praised the emergency services who responded to the scene under difficult circumstances.

In the days following the crash, the тιԍнт-knit nature of the Cleveland policing community has been widely noted. Flags at force headquarters have been flying at half-mast, floral tributes have been left near the scene, and books of condolence have been opened. An online fundraiser set up by the Cleveland Police Federation for the officers’ families quickly raised hundreds of thousands of pounds. Further memorial events, including a silent prayer vigil, have been arranged in the local area.

Police have also confirmed that a number of arrests linked to organised crime have been made as part of the wider investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash. The full details of those inquiries continue to develop. Authorities have urged the public to avoid speculation while the official investigation proceeds.

The tragedy has left both the policing family and the Teesside community in mourning. Further updates are expected as the IOPC investigation continues and as the families of all seven people who died continue to receive support.

Sources: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/aug/23/tributes-paid-cleveland-police-killed-a66-crash-south-bank?