A fundraiser has raised more than £264,000 for the officers’ families
Two police officers who died in a wrong-way crash on the A66 near Middlesbrough have been remembered as heroes by their families, colleagues and local communities.
PC Tom Clough and PC Matthew Blades died when a Volkswagen Passat collided with their marked armed response vehicle in the early hours of Saturday.
The Passat had been pursued by police before it entered the A66 travelling in the wrong direction.
The five occupants of the Passat also died in the crash.
They were identified as Michael Robert Cahill, Jacob Matusiak, Theo Rae, Makai Saddington, and Cole Robert Worthy.
Cleveland Police released tributes from the families of both officers following the tragedy.
PC Blades’ wife described her husband as a “beloved husband” and devoted father to their two young sons.
She said he had given his life while protecting and serving others with courage, dedication and selflessness.
She added that his love for his family would remain his greatest legacy.
PC Clough’s family described him as a hero who was always willing to help others.
They said he had a fantastic sense of humour and would jump into action whenever he was needed.
His family also remembered his military service and said he had proudly fought for his country.
Both officers were also remembered by people they had worked with and supported in their local communities.
PC Blades had recently become a coach at Seaton Carew FC, where he was preparing for his first season with the club’s under-seven team.
The club described him and his family as much-loved members of its community.
FC Hartlepool, where PC Blades coached an under-10s team, also paid tribute.
The club described him as a role model, mentor and friend who was admired by the children he coached.
Before joining Cleveland Police, PC Blades taught English at Carmel College in Darlington.
The school remembered him as an intelligent, kind and approachable teacher who gave generously to young people.
A fundraiser has raised more than £264,000 for the officers’ families, organised by the Cleveland Police Federation.
The federation said the money would allow their loved ones to decide how it should be used.
Police officers also visited the crash scene to lay floral tributes and remember their colleagues.
Some officers removed their hats and observed a moment of silence.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct is investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash.
The IOPC said officers had been assisting with a search for the Passat after reports linked it to several incidents.
The vehicle was believed to be using cloned registration plates that had activated an automatic number plate recognition camera.
Officers pursued the Passat for almost seven minutes before it turned onto the A66 travelling in the wrong direction.
The pursuit was then aborted, according to the IOPC.
Around 10 seconds later, the Passat collided with the officers’ vehicle, which was travelling on the correct side of the dual carriageway.
The IOPC said it had obtained initial accounts from officers involved in the pursuit, alongside the incident log and in-car footage.
Investigators are continuing to gather and analyse evidence.
The crash has also raised concerns about dangerous driving content shared on social media.
Videos previously posted online appeared to show some of the Passat’s occupants involved in dangerous driving.
The government has since urged social media companies to remove content that celebrates dangerous driving behaviour.
The A66 between Eston Road and Normanby Road remained closed while repairs were carried out following the collision.
The investigation into the crash remains ongoing.
