Several schools in Middlesbrough are to close early on Friday, citing pupil “safety” as the first funerals are held for the five young men who died in a head-on collision with a police car.
At least four schools have confirmed they will finish the day ahead of schedule, with hundreds of mourners expected to gather in the area for the funeral of Jakub Matusiak. He was killed in the A66 crash in Teesside, which also claimed the lives of two police officers.
The funeral service is set to take place at St John the Evangelist Church in South Bank, the same church where a silent prayer vigil was held last month in memory of PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough.
South Bank Primary School said it would close at 12pm on Friday “to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our pupils.”
Archway Academy Teesville, Outwood Academy Normanby and St Margaret Clitherow’s Catholic Primary School are also set to close early, while the Mackenzie Thorpe Centre will remain shut for the entire day.
There are fears the service could cause widespread disruption or break out into violence following vigils for the five men which saw off-road vehicles tear around estates, flares set off and even cars set alight.
Youths in balaclavas lit flares and set off fireworks at a memorial to Jakub Matusiak in South Bank on August 24
The 23-year-old was one of five young men killed when a stolen Volkswagen Passat crashed head on into a marked police vehicle
Crowds, motorbikes and quad bikes are expected to congregate for the funeral.
On social media, one associate of Matusiak discussing his funeral told mourners to bring ‘as many bikes quads jeeps anything let’s send him of how he would love [sic].’
At a ‘memorial’ for Matusiak last month, close to the crash site in South Bank, orange balloons were released, fireworks set off and balaclava-clad bikers intimidated residents.
The schools closing early tomorrow are also blaming possible ‘congestion and traffic disruption’, but the decision comes following a series of appalling incidents on Teesside which prompted former mayor Andy Preston to say criminals in the area are ‘untouchable.’
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Matusiak was one of five occupants of a Volkswagen Passat who died in the head-on collision with a marked Cleveland Police armed response vehicle on the A66 on August 22.
Matusiak, 23, Cole Worthy, 17, Theo Rae, 17, Makai Saddington, 18, and Michael Cahill, 23, were pronounced dead at the scene, alongside PC Blades and PC Clough.
A ‘memorial’ for Michael Cahill, who was also killed in the crash, led to cars being set alight in Haswell, County Durham
PC Tom Clough and PC Matthew Blades were killed in the A66 crash. A fundraiser collected £1.2million in memory of the officers
Four of the young men in the vehicle had criminal convictions, including for assaulting a police officer and vehicle offences.
Cahill had no previous convictions. However, a memorial to him in County Durham last week saw vehicles set on fire.
Cleveland Police has arrested 27 people for activities linked to ‘serious and organised crime’ in the wake of the A66 crash after drafting in more than 200 police officers from other forces to assist with the crackdown.
In a message posted on social media, head teacher Tammy Cooper said: ‘A funeral is being held locally at St John’s church on Normanby Road that day and we are expecting large numbers of people in the area which will inevitably cause congestion and transport disruption in the immediate area.
‘This decision has been reached after careful consideration of the potential impact on the departure of pupils, staff and families.’
Ms Cooper said the school also recognises ‘some pupils may feel upset or anxious about the funeral taking place locally’ and the pastoral team would be available for support.
Earlier this week, a fundraiser launched for the families of the two Cleveland Police officers reached its target, surpassing £1.2million.
Organisers said money raised would be split equally between the two officers’ families, while the Police Federation would continue to provide support.