A fund established to support the families of two police constables killed in a tragic A66 crash has now exceeded £750,000, with the public demonstrating widespread support. The incident, which claimed the lives of seven individuals, is under investigation as police explore links to organized crime. Six people remain in custody in connection with the ongoing inquiry.
Tragic Collision and Investigation
The catastrophic event occurred when an unmarked police vehicle, driven by PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough, collided head-on with a Volkswagen Passat traveling the wrong way down the A66 near Middlesbrough. The constables, both serving officers with Cleveland Police, were responding to a situation when the crash took place in the early hours of Saturday, August 22, 2026. The Passat was reportedly fleeing a police pursuit that had been called off moments before the collision.
Police believe the activities of the Passat and a second vehicle, a Volvo XC60 seen involved in incidents elsewhere on the same night, are connected. Both vehicles are thought to have been using cloned number plates to evade detection. The investigation is focusing on the possibility that the crash was a consequence of wider organized crime activities on Teesside.
In the aftermath, Cleveland Police arrested a dozen individuals, aged between 19 and 61, on suspicion of various offenses including involvement in an organized crime group, gun possession, and criminal damage. As of Monday afternoon, five individuals were remanded in custody, one was recalled to prison, five were released on bail, and the status of one person remained unclear.
Assistant Chief Constable Wayne Fox stated, “We have a duty to respond to, and thoroughly investigate, the serious criminal activity that resulted in this fatal incident, and to bring all those responsible to justice. Our robust response will continue in the weeks and months to come, as we continue to tackle those that seek to cause harm to our communities and tackle serious and organised crime.”
Public Outpouring of Support
The public response to the loss of PC Blades and PC Clough has been significant. The official GoFundMe appeal set up by Cleveland Police for the constables’ families garnered an astonishing £750,000 by early Monday morning. An additional £40,000 was raised through a separate appeal organized by Pocket Sergeant.
Cleveland Police described the fallen officers in a tribute: “PC Matt Blades and PC Tom Clough were both dedicated and committed Police Officers who left their families and went to work to serve their community and protect the public. Tragedy struck these two brave Cleveland Police colleagues in the early hours of 22nd August 2026 – and they paid the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.”
Remembering the Officers
A sober vigil was held at St John The Evangelist Church to honor the constables. PC Matt Blades, 38, a father of two, was remembered by his wife as “our superhero” who “gave his life in the line of duty, protecting and serving others with courage, dedication and selflessness.” He was also a dedicated football coach, inspiring young players at Seaton Carew FC and FC Hartlepool.
PC Tom Clough, 37, a former soldier, was described by his family as “our hero” who was “always on public duty” and “willing to help anyone for any reason.” His family expressed profound gratitude for the “overwhelming support and condolences from friends, colleagues and the wider community.” Both officers were pronounced dead at the scene.
Contrasting Tributes and Concerns
In stark contrast to the solemn remembrance for the officers, a separate gathering took place in a field in South Bank, Middlesbrough, to commemorate the five youths who died in the Passat. This event involved pyrotechnics, revving motorbikes, and flares, drawing criticism from some members of the public.
One grandmother observing the event commented, “This is nothing but a mockery of the lives of those policemen. I’ve watched them down there drinking and smoking weed and razzing about on their motorbikes. There’s nothing here to celebrate.”
The five youths in the Passat were identified as Jakub Matusiak, 23; Michael Cahill, 23; Theo Rae, 17; Cole Worthy, 17; and Makai Saddington, 18. Reports indicated that four of the youths had extensive criminal records, with a combined total of 37 convictions for offenses including drug offenses, assault, and robbery.
Some social media activity linked to the youths has drawn attention. Videos appearing to show members of the group in previous police chases surfaced, and one of the deceased, Makai Saddington, had posted videos on TikTok that seemed to depict him being pursued by police. Another deceased individual, Michael Cahill, was reportedly seen filming himself driving at high speeds in a residential area.
A female attendee at the youths’ tribute defended them, stating, “Jakub was a lovely, caring lad and he’s somebody’s son and somebody’s brother, he’s not some scumbag who should just be written off and forgotten. It was an accident that those police officers died, they weren’t trying to kill anyone and they lost their own lives but they’ve just been written off as if they don’t matter.” She emphasized that the turnout for Jakub showed he was loved and would be missed.
Broader Context and Official Response
The Middlesbrough incident occurred shortly after a similar tragedy in County Kildare, Ireland, where five teenagers died in a head-on collision while driving the wrong way on the M9 motorway. In that incident, a family in the other vehicle sustained serious injuries. At least three of the teenagers involved were reported to have previously posted online about driving the wrong way to evade police.
In response to the trend of glorifying dangerous driving, Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated that the government had urged platforms like TikTok to remove such content, calling those who share it “truly reprehensible.” A Downing Street spokesperson echoed this sentiment, describing the glorification of dangerous driving as “utterly disgraceful.”
The investigation into the A66 crash continues, with authorities committed to addressing the serious criminal activity that led to the fatal outcome and ensuring justice is served.
