A TikTok video has emerged appearing to show one of the men who died in the devastating A66 Middlesbrough crash filming himself driving dangerously in the months before the tragedy
Social media footage has surfaced showing one of the youths killed in the A66 wrong-way crash recording himself driving recklessly and threatening: “Delete him or he’s going over the bonnet.”
Jacob Matusiak, 23, is seen driving at speed and wrote: “Unfortunately I’m not a nonchalant boyfriend.” The footage, seemingly recorded by the motorist himself, depicts a vehicle racing through a residential neighbourhood in daylight hours.
The car then drives onto a green space in the centre of a housing estate before it is then seen travelling down a footpath, as the driver steers without holding the camera with his hands.
Matusiak – one of five youths who died instantly when their Volkswagen Passat ploughed head-on into a patrol car, killing two brave gun cops – had driving convictions before to the fatal crash.
Back in March 2026, he pleaded guilty to using a vehicle without insurance and driving without a licence. The other youths in the speeding car have been named as Michael Robert Cahill, 23, Theo Rae, 17, Cole Robert Worthy, 17, and Makai Saddington, 18.
Moving tributes have been paid to the two officers killed in the smash, PCs Matthew Blades, 37, and Tom Clough, 38. Both officers and the five men in the VW Passat were pronounced dead at the scene.
Police had been pursuing the Passat following reports of “numerous incidents” linked to the vehicle. Police dashcam recordings revealed the chase lasted just under seven minutes. The Passat then drove down the wrong-side of the A66, at which point officers “aborted” their pursuit, according to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).
A Ring doorbell captured the VW Passat speeding along Lime Road in Middlesbrough at 3.36am. Just three minutes after the documented chase ended, at 3.39am, the vehicle smashed into a different armed-response car travelling on the correct carriageway of the A66.
Videos posted to a TikTok account believed to belong to Makai Saddington in March 2025 appeared to show him with four others taking part in what seemed like a police chase. The clips show cars driving across a field and have since been deleted. On Sunday, PC Clough’s family paid a moving tribute to the “hero” officer.
They said: “He was our hero with a fantastic sense of humour. Jumped into action whenever needed, and willing to help anyone for any reason. Proudly fought for his country to make the world a better place. Always on public duty throughout his short life.
“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.”
PC Blades’ wife said on Sunday evening “no words will ever feel like the right words to honour our Matt”. She described him as “my beloved husband, my best friend, and the most devoted father to our two young boys”.
She added: “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.
“He gave his life in the line of duty, protecting and serving others with courage, dedication and selflessness. The pain of losing him is beyond words, and our lives will never be the same. Neither will the love he gave us ever fade.
“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.”
A GoFundMe page was established for the officers’ families and has already collected more than £220,000.