Two police officers killed in North Yorkshire crash named as Matthew Blades and Tom Clough

Watchdog launches inquiry into collision in which seven people died involving police car and another vehicle

Two police officers who died in a car crash near Middlesbrough in the early hours of Saturday have been named.

Police constables Matthew Blades and Tom Clough were among seven people killed after their marked police car collided with a Volkswagen Passat travelling the wrong way along the A66 in North Yorkshire .

Victoria Fuller, the chief constable of Cleveland police, said it was an “incredibly sad day” for the force.

“The loss has been felt across our communities, by our police family and by our partner agencies,” she said.

She described Blades and Clough as “brave officers protecting our communities and serving our residents who didn’t return home to their families at the end of their shift”.

Fuller added that she had visited the families of both officers to “offer our condolences and support” .

The force confirmed that all occupants of both vehicles were pronounced dead at the scene.

The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), said it understood the officers had been pursuing a suspicious vehicle when the accident occurred at 3.39am.

It has launched a mandatory investigation and is working with officers from Cleveland police to establish the circumstances surrounding the crash.

“This tragic incident will be felt across Cleveland, within our communities and throughout the entire policing family,” Fuller added.

“We are providing specialist support to all families involved at this extremely difficult time.”

Fuller said Cleveland police would “cooperate fully” with the IOPC investigation.

“While this investigation takes place, we strongly urge people to avoid speculation,” she said.