A tragic accident on the A66 has claimed the lives of seven individuals, including two police officers, after a Volkswagen collided head-on with a police car while driving in the opposite direction.
This devastating crash happened around 3:40 a.m. today near South Bank in Middlesbrough, Teesside, and occurred during a police chase.
Both officers in the marked police vehicle, along with five passengers in the Volkswagen Passat, were found dead at the scene, marking a chilling reminder of the perils on the roads.
Cleveland Police confirmed that the police vehicle involved in the crash was moving in the correct direction along the A66.
This tragedy follows another recent accident where five young men lost their lives in a head-on collision on an Irish motorway. That incident involved a stolen BMW traveling the wrong way on the M9 in County Kildare and resulted in fatalities in the early hours of Sunday.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct has launched an investigation into the crash in Teesside following a mandatory referral from Cleveland Police.
The watchdog said officers spotted a suspicious vehicle and a pursuit began before the car travelled onto the A66 where it collided with the police car.
Police are still working to formally identify all occupants of the Volkswagen Passat but have informed the the families of those identified and offered them specialist support.
Residents in Lime Road, Teesville, said they were woken at around 3.30am by the police pursuit, about a mile away from the crash scene.
Police officers at the scene of a fatal crash involving a police car and a Volkswagen Passat on the A66 near Middlesbrough
Emergency services at the scene on the A66 in South Bank, Middlesbrough, where multiple people died in a crash at 3.40am on Saturday
Neil Hutchinson, 47, said: ‘There were police cars tearing down the street at half past three with lights flashing and their sirens going, it woke me up.
‘You could tell from the noise that they were travelling at high speed. Two cars went down the street and then a few seconds later there was a third, they were obviously going after another vehicle.
‘It’s a narrow street with cars parked on either side so it must have been a serious situation to be going at that speed down this road.
‘We woke up this morning to the news that people have been killed.
‘They were travelling in the direction of the A66 so it must have been part of the same incident.’
Another resident said: ‘A car shot down the street at speed and the police were right behind it and they were all travelling at very high speed, it was terrifying and must have woken the whole street.
‘It’s tragic that it’s ended with people dead.’
The A66 is currently closed in both directions between Normanby Road and Church Lane and is expected to remain shut ‘for some time’.
The road is the major artery through Teesside and the location of the crash is surrounded by industrial units and factories.
A large number of emergency service vehicles were at the scene this morning and motorists are being urged to use alternative routes.
Police are pictured at the site of the road closure on the A66 in Teesside this morning
A large number of emergency service vehicles remain at the scene and motorists are being urged to use alternative routes
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.’
Anna Turley, MP for the Redcar constituency where the crash happened, said: ‘My heart goes out to every family, friend and loved one now facing the most unimaginable loss following this morning’s devastating accident on the A66.
‘Cleveland Police have confirmed that seven people have sadly lost their lives. Their families and loved ones are now facing an unimaginable loss that will be felt forever.
IRELAND: Alex McCarthy was one of the five boys who died in a collision in County Kildare last Sunday
IRELAND: Jeremy O’Brien (left) and Joey Carthy (right) were among five teenagers to lose their lives in the collision last Sunday
IRELAND: Kamil Pustowski (left) and Jack Kennedy (right) died in the crash on the M9
‘Two of the seven people who have lost their lives were Cleveland Police officers, on duty serving our community. They went to work to keep people safe, and they should have come home to their families. Their loss will be felt deeply by their loved ones, fellow officers and right across the communities they served.
‘Cleveland Police are investigating the accident, alongside the Independent Office for Police Conduct. It is crucial that we respect that process and avoid speculation at this deeply painful time.
‘I cannot begin to imagine how difficult this has been for the emergency services responding to such a devastating incident. Thank you to every one of them for their courage, care and professionalism.
‘I am being kept updated by Cleveland Police and by the Home Office as Minister and will share further official information when appropriate.
‘The A66 will remain closed in both directions between Normanby Road and Church Lane. Please avoid the area and use alternative routes.’
The chairwoman of Cleveland Police Federation said ‘words cannot describe the pain’ following the death of two police officers in a crash on the A66.
Lauren Somerville 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.’
In a statement, the federation said it was supporting the two officers’ close colleagues and asked people to ‘spare a thought’ for the Cleveland Police officers at work following the deaths.
North East Ambulance Service said it had been called to a two-vehicle crash and sent 14 units to the scene.
This included ambulance crews, a specialist paramedic, a hazardous area response team and a doctor from Great North Air Ambulance Service.
A spokesman for the ambulance 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.’
A Cleveland Police spokesman previously said: ‘We are working to identify the victims and contact their families.
‘This is a quickly-evolving incident and we ask that members of the public respectfully avoid speculation.’
IOPC director of investigations Nicola Marfleet said: ‘This is a tragic incident, and my thoughts are with family and friends and all those affected, including the emergency services in attendance.’
She added investigators had been sent to start reviewing evidence, and the watchdog is cooperating with Cleveland Police to establish the circumstances of the collision.
Anna Turley, MP for the Redcar constituency where the crash happened, said: ‘I am deeply saddened to hear of the fatal collision on the A66 this morning.
‘My thoughts are with the families and loved ones of those who have lost their lives, and with everyone affected by this terrible incident.
‘Thank you to all of our emergency services, who have worked through the night responding to this devastating incident.’
She added: ‘We would ask everyone to avoid speculating online to respect the families and the police while they do their work at this terrible time.’