‘Screaming youngsters’ soar from window to flee deadly home hearth on the town rocked by A66 crash

A witness has described seeing children leaping from a window to flee the fire that tragically claimed two lives in the same town struck by the fatal A66 crash last weekend.

A local resident witnessed the aftermath of the blaze on Birchington Avenue, Grangetown, Middlesbrough, following the fire that broke out early on Wednesday morning (August 25).

A significant emergency services presence continues to be seen in the vicinity, after the house suffered extensive damage. Cleveland Police have confirmed that a murder investigation is now underway, with the fire having been put out by firefighters from Cleveland Fire Brigade.

Speaking to Mirror Online, the neighbour said: “The couple who live there have a daughter, and she and her friend jumped out of the window to escape the fire.

“I woke up at about 5am because of the noise of the fire engines. I went out and saw someone being carried out by a firefighter dressed in an orange uniform.

Another bystander, a 20-year-old named Ellie, also told the Mirror: “I could hear kids screaming and I was shouting for people to come out and help.

“Two of the kids got out from upstairs. I was holding the hand of an older woman.

“She was in pain and in a bad way. Then they took her away in an ambulance.”

This incident came just days after the A66 crash which resulted in the deaths of seven people, just two miles away, reports Teesside Live. The victims of the fatal crash included two police officers, Pc Matthew Blades and Pc Tom Clough, as well as the occupants of a VW Passat – 17-year-olds Cole Robert Worthy and Theo Rae, Makai Saddington, 18, and 23-year-olds Michael Robert Cahill and Jakub Matusiak.

According to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), the VW Passat was travelling in the wrong direction on the A66 when it collided with the patrol car carrying the officers, which was travelling in the correct direction. A GoFundMe page set up in support of the two police officers has so far raised £982,752, while floral tributes have been placed outside Cleveland Police HQ in Middlesbrough.

Flowers have also been laid at the scene in memory of the five occupants of the VW, with vigils being held in their honour. Redcar and Cleveland Local Policing Commander, Superintendent Emily Harrison, said: “This is a tragic incident which has sadly resulted in the deaths of a number of people this morning, and their families are being supported by specially trained officers.

“We are working to establish the circumstances of exactly what has happened, but we are keeping an open mind and cannot rule out any links to wider organised crime at this time. We will have a high visibility presence in the Grangetown area as this investigation progresses, and to provide reassurance to local communities, who will no doubt be impacted by this tragic incident.

“We encourage anyone who has concerns, or who may have information regarding the incident in the early hours of this morning, to approach one of our officers or to contact Cleveland Police on 101, quoting reference number 170941, or Crimestoppers anonymously, either online, or by calling 0800 555 1111.”

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