Hundreds of mourners gathered in South Bank, Middlesbrough, on Friday, September 4, for the funeral of 23-year-old Jakub Matusiak, also known as Jacob — the first funeral for one of the five young men who lost their lives in the A66 collision.

The emotional procession brought much of the area to a standstill. Roads were closed, several schools shut early, and businesses also closed their doors as large crowds gathered along Normanby Road ahead of the service at St John the Evangelist Church.

Mourners wore black and orange, with orange reportedly chosen because it was Jakub’s favourite colour. A horse-drawn carriage carried his coffin through the streets, followed by a large procession of family, friends and supporters.

Jakub was one of seven people who died in the August 22 collision on the A66, alongside Cole Worthy, Theo Rae, Makai Saddington and Michael Cahill, as well as Cleveland Police officers PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough.

For those lining the streets, the funeral was more than a procession — it was a deeply emotional farewell to a young man whose life ended in a tragedy that has left families and the wider Middlesbrough community grieving.

As the town continues to deal with the aftermath of the crash, the focus on Friday was, above all, on remembering Jakub and giving his loved ones the chance to say goodbye. 💙

ITV News — Funeral coverage