Seven people, including two police officers, died in the crash on the A66 near Middlesbrough in the early hours of this morning, Cleveland Police said.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is investigating the circumstances leading up to a fatal crash involving a police car and a Volkswagen Passat on the A66 in South Bank, near Middlesbrough.
Officers from Cleveland Police spotted a suspicious vehicle and a pursuit began before the car travelled onto the A66 and collided with a police car at 3.39am, the watchdog said.
An investigation was opened just after 6am on Saturday August 22 following a mandatory referral from the force, the watchdog said.
Press Association photographers have taken these first pictures from the scene – more to follow:
1. Crash on A66 South Bank
A police cordon at the scene of a fatal crash involving a police car and a Volkswagen Passat on the A66 in South Bank, near Middlesbrough. An investigation has been launched into a crash which killed several people following a police pursuit in the early hours of Saturday morning, the police watchdog said. Picture date: Saturday August 22, 2026. Photo: Owen Humphreys
2. Crash on A66 South Bank
A police cordon at the scene of a fatal crash involving a police car and a Volkswagen Passat on the A66 in South Bank, near Middlesbrough. An investigation has been launched into a crash which killed several people following a police pursuit in the early hours of Saturday morning, the police watchdog said. Picture date: Saturday August 22, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Tom Wilkinson/PA Wire Photo: Tom Wilkinson
3. Crash on A66 South Bank
A police cordon at the scene of a fatal crash involving a police car and a Volkswagen Passat on the A66 in South Bank, near Middlesbrough. An investigation has been launched into a crash which killed several people following a police pursuit in the early hours of Saturday morning, the police watchdog said. Picture date: Saturday August 22, 2026. PA Photo. Tom Wilkinson/PA Wire Photo: Tom Wilkinson
4. Crash on A66 South Bank
A police cordon at the scene of a fatal crash involving a police car and a Volkswagen Passat on the A66 in South Bank, near Middlesbrough. An investigation has been launched into a crash which killed several people following a police pursuit in the early hours of Saturday morning, the police watchdog said. Picture date: Saturday August 22, 2026. Tom Wilkinson/PA Wire Photo: Tom Wilkinson
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