Andy Burnham has paid tribute after seven people – including serving police officers PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough – were killed when a wrong-way car collided with a marked police vehicle
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has led tributes after seven people – including two serving police officers – were killed in a horror crash.
The officers were on active duty when their marked police vehicle collided with a Volkswagen Passat travelling the wrong way along the A66 in the early hours of Saturday morning. The officers have since been named as PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough.
The Prime Minister said: “Devastated to hear that two police officers have lost their lives while on duty in Cleveland this morning, as well as five members of the public.
“My thoughts are with the families and loved ones of everyone involved, and with everyone at Cleveland Police. Thank you to the emergency services responding in incredibly difficult circumstances.
“I would urge people to avoid speculation at this time.”
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood also paid tribute, she said: “A devastating incident in Teesside this morning in which seven people have died, including two police officers. Cleveland police have my support as they work to identify all those involved. Police officers put their own safety on the line to protect their communities every single day. The two officers were on active duty, serving the people of Cleveland.
“My thoughts are with all those affected, their families, friends, the emergency services who attended the scene and the wider police family.”
The tragedy unfolded in South Bank, near Middlesbrough, at around 3.39am. Five members of the public travelling in the Passat were also killed and everyone in both vehicles was pronounced dead at the scene.
A major emergency response was launched following the collision, with the North East Ambulance Service sending 14 resources to the scene, including ambulance crews, a specialist paramedic and its Hazardous Area Response Team.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash. The watchdog said it understands Cleveland Police had sighted a suspicious vehicle and a pursuit began before the Passat travelled onto the A66 and collided with the police car.
The pursuit had been abandoned before the crash and the police vehicle involved in the collision was not part of the pursuit and was just travelling in the area, according to the BBC
Work is reportedly still ongoing to formally identify everyone who was inside the Passat. Families of those who have been identified have been informed and are receiving specialist support.
The ambulance service said: “Sadly despite the best efforts of everyone attending, a number of patients died at the scene. We send condolences to all of those affected by such a tragic event and thank everyone for all they did to help.”
The deaths of the two officers have left colleagues at Cleveland Police devastated. Lauren Somerville, Chair of Cleveland Police Federation, said: “Words cannot describe the pain the Cleveland Police Family are feeling today. Our colleagues who should have been going home to their loved ones at the end of their shifts are not. And that is just unfathomable.
“Cleveland Police Federation will be offering full support to our fallen colleagues families and they have all of our love and care at this time. When the time is right we will pay full tribute to our brave colleagues. But we can assure that their sacrifice will never be forgotten.”
Chief Constable Victoria Fuller said: “First and foremost, our thoughts are with the families of everyone involved in today’s incident. No one should leave their home and not return safely, including police officers serving their communities and protecting the people of Cleveland.
“This tragic incident will be felt across Cleveland, within our communities and throughout the entire policing family. We are providing specialist support to all families involved at this extremely difficult time.
“The investigation has been referred to the IOPC, which is the standard approach when a death occurs following police contact. We will cooperate fully with their investigation. While this investigation takes place, we strongly urge people to avoid speculation.”
Police and Crime Commissioner Matt Storey said there were few words that could bring comfort to the families, friends and colleagues of the seven people who died. He added: “Our thoughts are with everyone affected and with those who are continuing to come to terms with this unimaginable loss, including colleagues at Cleveland Police, who will feel the profound loss of two of their serving officers.
“On behalf of everyone at the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner and the people of Cleveland, I extend our deepest condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of all seven people who lost their lives.
“I also give my sincere thanks to the staff from all our emergency services who responded to, and are continuing to manage, this devastating incident.”