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IOPC finds no evidence of direct police contact before fatal A66 crash
Overview
An initial investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has found no evidence of tactical contact or the use of a stinger by police before a fatal crash on the A66 near Middlesbrough. The collision on 22 August resulted in the deaths of five men in a Volkswagen Passat and two Cleveland Police officers, PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough. The pursuit had been abandoned after the Passat drove the wrong way down the dual carriageway.
Key points
- An initial IOPC investigation found no evidence of tactical contact or the use of a stinger device before the A66 crash.
- The collision occurred on 22 August at South Bank near Middlesbrough, following an abandoned police pursuit.
- Five people in a Volkswagen Passat and two Cleveland Police officers (PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough) were killed.
- The IOPC stated that the pursuing police driver turned off their blue lights and did not follow the Passat onto the wrong carriageway.
- The full IOPC investigation is expected to take months to conclude as experts review collision reconstruction and relevant police pursuit policies.