Men killed in A66 crash had posted joyriding videos before collision with police car

A66 crash: men killed in horror smash posted TikToks joyriding before fatal collision with police car

Some of the five young men who died as their Volkswagen Passat collided with a police car, killing two brave officers in the line of duty, had posted apparent joyriding videos on TikTok in the months before the crash.

Michael Robert Cahill, 23, Theo Rae, 17, Cole Robert Worthy, 16, Jacob Matusiak, 23, and Makai Saddington, 18 all died when their car collided with a marked police armed response vehicle in South Bank, Middlesbrough, at around 3.39am on Saturday.

All seven people were tragically killed. The circumstances of the crash remain unknown and it is not known who was driving the Volkswagen.

Cleveland Police, who named the five occupants of the Volkswagen this afternoon, said: “Family liaison officers are continuing to work with the families of all those who sadly lost their lives in the collision.

In the months before the crash, Mr Matusiak posted videos on TikTok where he appeared to be joyriding.

In May, he appeared to be driving a Volvo at speed, before veering off the road and over a grass park, The Telegraph reported.

Police officers at the scene of a fatal crash involving a police car and a Volkswagen Passat on the A66 in South Bank, near Middlesbrough. Credit: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire

While the Sun said Mr Saddington also uploaded videos onto TikTok where he appeared to be chased by police.

In one video, teens can be seen driving through a housing estate while a police car with blue flashing lights follows.

In the early hours of Saturday morning, officers from Cleveland Police spotted a “suspicious vehicle” and a pursuit began before the car travelled onto the A66.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct said officers had “received intelligence regarding numerous incidents that were linked to a Volkswagen Passat”.

Balloons left near to the scene on the A66 in South Bank. Credit: Richard McCarthy/PA Wire

Although the full route of the pursuit is unknown, Ring doorbell footage published by several websites, which appears to have been taken on Lime Road, Middlesbrough, minutes before the crash, shows a car being driven at speed down a residential road and being followed by police cars.

Teesville resident Neil Hutchinson told the Mail on Sunday: “There were police cars tearing down the street at 3.30am with lights flashing and their sirens going, it woke me up.”

The IOPC said that analysis of the police vehicle in car footage shows the pursuit lasted just under seven minutes.

Cleveland Police aborted the pursuit when the Volkswagen started driving the wrong way down the A66.

Pc Blades and Pc Clough were not involved in the original chase, but were called to the area as the Passat’s apparent cloned plates had triggered an ANPR camera.

Just seconds after going the wrong way down the A66, the Volkswagen hit the pair of officers, driving the correct way down the dual carriageway.

The IOPC is investigating the lead-up to the crash, after a mandatory referral from Cleveland Police.

Cleveland Police chief constable Victoria Fuller said: “Formal identification has now taken place for the occupants of the Volkswagen Passat and specialist family liaison officers are being deployed to support the bereaved families, we also have support in place for our officers and staff who have been affected by today’s tragic events.

“As is mandatory following any death connected to a police incident, we have referred the matter to the Independent Office for Police Conduct and are fully co-operating with their investigation.

“Whilst this investigation is ongoing, and out of respect for all those who have lost loved ones, I would strongly urge people to avoid speculation and respect the privacy of the families.”