(Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)
The IOPC has revealed new details about the fatal A66 collision that claimed the lives of seven men, including two police officers.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has confirmed that the crash, which occurred in Middlesbrough, followed a police pursuit involving a Volkswagen Passat which was believed to be using cloned plates that had activated an ANPR camera.
Cleveland Police had received intelligence linking the vehicle to several incidents and began a pursuit using an armed response vehicle.
The chase lasted just under seven minutes before the Passat entered the A66 at South Bank, driving against the flow of traffic.
Officers then made the decision to abort the pursuit and continued along the correct side of the carriageway.
About 10 seconds later, the Passat collided with a police vehicle that had not been part of the chase but was in the area assisting in the search for the Passat.
The IOPC confirmed that all seven people involved in the incident died.
Among the victims were two Cleveland Police officers, PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough.
The five men who died in the Passat were named as Michael Robert Cahill, 23, Theo Rae, 17, Cole Robert Worthy, 17, Jacob Matusiak, 23, and Makai Saddington, 18.
Derrick Campbell, IOPC director of engagement, said: "Our thoughts continue to be with the family and friends and all those affected by yesterday’s collision.
"We recognise the devastating impact the incident has had on those in the force, and the wider policing community, and offer our condolences.
"We have obtained initial accounts of officers involved in the pursuit, the incident log, and in-car footage of the incident.
"Work is ongoing to obtain additional material.
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"IOPC investigators will continue to review and analyse all the evidence that is available to us.
"We will not be providing any further comment at this time."
An IOPC investigation began after a mandatory referral from Cleveland Police, with investigators attending the scene and post-incident procedures to review evidence.