The deadly police pursuit on the A66 near Middlesbrough highlights the dangers that officers in Canada and the United States also face during high‑speed chases. Two officers were among seven people killed in a car crash following a police chase in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Investigation launched by Independent Office for Police Conduct
PC Matthew Blades, 37, and PC Tom Clough, 38, were killed when a Volkswagen Passat travelling the wrong way collided with their marked police vehicle that was going in the right direction.
Cleveland Police said the officers and five members of the public in the Passat were pronounced dead at the scene at 3.39 am.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) opened an investigation into the circumstances leading to the crash after a mandatory referral from Cleveland Police.
Canadian and American police agencies regularly review pursuit policies to try to prevent such loss of life. The tragedy serves as a reminder for North American forces to balance public safety with officer risk.
Families of both officers have been informed and are being offered specialist support, the force added.
Emergency response
Officers spotted a suspicious vehicle and a pursuit began before the car travelled onto the A66 and collided with a police car at 3.39 am, the watchdog said.
Anna Turley, MP for the Redcar constituency where the crash happened, expressed her sadness and thanked emergency services for their work through the night.
The A66 was closed in both directions between Normanby Road and Church Lane in Eston, with police manning both ends of the cordon.
A large white tent was erected over the scene, and multiple emergency service vehicles were present.
North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) was called to a two‑vehicle crash and sent 14 units, including ambulance crews, a specialist paramedic, a hazardous area response team and a doctor from Great North Air Ambulance Service.
Despite the best efforts of everyone attending, a number of patients died at the scene, NEAS said.
IOPC director of investigations Nicola Marfleet said investigators have been sent to start reviewing evidence and the watchdog is cooperating with Cleveland Police to establish the circumstances of the collision.