Police aborted pursuit about 10 seconds before fatal crash, watchdog says

Two police officers killed in a wrong-way crash on the A66 near Middlesbrough have been remembered as "brave officers protecting our communities" in what has been described as an "unimaginable loss".

PC Matthew Blades, 37, and PC Tom Clough, 38, were killed when a Volkswagen Passat with five occupants said to be in their late teens, driving the wrong way, struck the Cleveland Police vehicle at about 03:39 BST on Saturday.

The BBC understands a police pursuit of the car had ended before the crash, with the police vehicle just happening to be in the South Bank area. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is now investigating.

Chief Constable Victoria Fuller said on Saturday it was an "incredibly sad day for Cleveland", adding: "No one should leave their home and not return safely."

Fuller said she and her deputy chief constable visited the officers' families to "offer our condolences, support one another, and begin to come to terms with this unimaginable loss".

Politicians, including the prime minister and home secretary, have remembered the officers, with Andy Burnham saying he was "devastated" by the news.

Anna Turley, MP for the Redcar constituency where the crash happened, said the officers "went to work to keep people safe and they should have come home to their families".

She added: "Their loss will be felt deeply by their loved ones, fellow officers and right across the communities they served."

David Taylor and Stephen Martin, councillors for the Eston ward, said they were "deeply saddened" by the "unimaginable tragedy".

Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen called the case "a horrible and tragic incident" in a statement on Facebook.

"Our police officers are heroes who put everything on the line to protect us, and I know all of Teesside will want to pay tribute to the officers and other emergency service workers involved for the bravery they have shown in responding to this incident."

Cleveland Police Federation chairwoman Lauren Somerville said the loss of the officers was "unfathomable", adding: "Words cannot describe the pain the Cleveland Police family are feeling today."

When someone dies following police contact, it is mandatory for the case to be referred to the IOPC, which is now investigating.

The watchdog said on Saturday that "at this early stage, we understand Cleveland Police sighted a suspicious vehicle and a pursuit began."