Two cops killed in flawed means A66 crash died from ‘head and neck accidents’, inquest heard
Pc Matthew Blades, 37, and Pc Tom Clough, 38, died in a head-on collision on the A66 after a car carrying five men was travelling the wrong way as the inquest opened into their deaths
PC Matthew Blades is one of the officers who lost his life in the A66 crash(Image: Cleveland Police)
Two police officers died from head and neck injuries after their marked vehicle was hit by a car going the wrong way down a dual carriageway, an inquest opening has heard.
Pc Matthew Blades, 37, and Pc Tom Clough, 38, died in a head-on collision on the A66 near Middlesbrough on Saturday (August 22). On Thursday (August 27) inquests into their deaths were opened and adjourned at Teesside Coroner’s Court.
In short, consecutive hearings, coroner Paul Appleton said Pc Blades was identified by his wife, and Pc Clough by his partner. The provisional cause of death was said to be head and neck injuries for Pc Blades, and neck injuries for Pc Clough.
PC Tom Clough died due to neck injuries, the inquest heard
Mr Appleton said that in the early hours of August 22 there was a collision on the A66 at South Bank between a police vehicle and a Volkswagen Passat.
He told the hearing that “all occupants of both vehicles were sadly pronounced dead at the scene”.
Mr Appleton said: “At this stage it is understood that there had been a police pursuit of the Volkswagen Passat. It entered the A66 carriageway against the flow of traffic, at which stage the pursuit was aborted.
A police officer leaves flowers at the Cleveland Police HQ Memorial Garden in Middlesbrough following their tragic deaths(Image: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire)
“A short time after … the Volkswagen Passat collided with a police vehicle, which had not been directly involved in the prior pursuit.”
In the afternoon, inquests will open into the deaths of Cole Worthy, 17, Theo Rae, 17, Makai Saddington, 18, and 23-year-olds Michael Robert Cahill and Jacob Matusiak – who were in the Passat and pronounced dead at the scene.
Tributes to the two officers killed in a dual carriageway crash have described them as a devoted father and football coach, and a fantastic former soldier who fought proudly for his country.
Pc Blades, 37, was a married father-of-two and dedicated football coach in his spare time.
Police officers at the scene of a fatal crash involving a police car and a Volkswagen Passat on the A66(Image: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire)
He had recently joined Seaton Carew FC as a coach and was looking forward to teaching his son in its under-sevens Seahawks squad, the club said.
The officer also coached his eldest son and other youngsters in the under-10s Reds team at FC Hartlepool, which called him “a role model, a mentor, a friend, and someone the children looked up to and admired”.
Pc Blades’s wife called him “our superhero”, and said: “He gave his life in the line of duty, protecting and serving others with courage, dedication and selflessness.”
In a statement issued by Cleveland Police, she called him “my beloved husband, my best friend, and the most devoted father to our two young boys”.
The officer’s wife said he was “an adored son and brother, a perfect son-in-law, and the most fun uncle”.
“He was loved beyond words by all his family and friends, and his loss has left a space that can never be filled,” she said. “Our children will grow up knowing what an incredible father he was and will always be, and I will carry his love, his memory and everything we shared with me always.”
Former soldier Pc Clough, 38, was described by his family as “our hero” who was “always on public duty”.
They said he “jumped into action whenever needed, and (was) willing to help anyone for any reason”.
The family statement added that he “proudly fought for his country to make the world a better place”.
It continued: “We as a family and Tom’s partner would like to express our sincere gratitude for the overwhelming support and condolences from friends, colleagues and the wider community.”
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