Seven Dead, Including Two Officers, in Head-On Highway Crash Near Middlesbrough
A wrong-way Volkswagen Passat collided with a police vehicle on the A66 near Middlesbrough early Saturday, killing seven people, among them two Cleveland Police officers.
Seven people were killed in a head-on collision on the A66 highway near Middlesbrough early Saturday, police said. The crash involved a Volkswagen Passat traveling in the opposite direction of traffic that struck a Cleveland Police vehicle moving the correct way. The victims were pronounced dead at the scene at about 3:39 a.m.
Cleveland Police identified the two officers killed as Constables Matthew Blades and Tom Clough, according to Chief Constable Victoria Fuller. Police are still working to confirm the identities of the remaining victims, and families of those identified have been notified and offered specialist support.
The incident is being investigated by Cleveland Police in conjunction with the Independent Office for Police Conduct, which routinely examines such events. Prime Minister Andy Burnham expressed sorrow over the loss of life and asked the public to refrain from speculation.
"I am devastated to hear about the loss of life," Burnham said. "People should avoid speculation at this time," he added.