A66 crash: government tells TikTok to take down joyriding videos after police killed in horror smash

Seven people - including two police officers - died in the horror crash along the A66 on Saturday morning.

The Government has urged TikTok and other social media firms to remove dangerous joyriding videos as court records show one of the men killed in the A66 crash was awaiting trial over alleged crimes against police officers.

All seven people were tragically killed. The two brave police officers, who died in the line of duty, have been hailed as “heroes” by their families.

Court records have now revealed that Mr Saddington was accused of assaulting a police officer and of causing racially aggravated alarm or distress to another in Middlesbrough on June 9.

He had appeared before Teesside Magistrates’ Court on July 17 charged with the offences and was awaiting trial.

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

In the months before the crash, Mr Matusiak also 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.

Defence minister Luke Pollard said social media platforms should act to remove posts of that nature.

Asked about videos being shared on TikTok, Snapchat and other forums, he told BBC Radio 5 Live: “We’ve communicated to those social media platforms that have been hosting content that celebrates this type of dangerous behaviour on our roads to take down that content.

“I think we all need to give the police time, but there’s also things we can be doing in the meantime to make sure that the internet is a safer place for everyone, that doesn’t celebrate and load views and therefore financial incentives on people to generate such awful content.”

He added: “I want to see social media companies step up.

“It’s one of the reasons they’ve argued against some of the regulations, saying they can police themselves. Well this is the perfect opportunity to demonstrate it. Remove the content that celebrates dangerous behaviour on our roads.

“While that content is online, the Government will be using the powers in the Online Safety Act to compel the platforms to take it down.

“But if the social media platforms were to regulate themselves and remove it in the first place, not allow their algorithm to share this type of content, because they know exactly what type of content that algorithm is designed to share, then I think we’d be in a better place.”

A TikTok spokesperson said its policies strictly prohibit content that could cause significant physical harm, including dangerous driving, and that it is actively removing any videos and accounts that break its rules.

They added that TikTok was monitoring videos in relation to the A66 crash and had taken down videos posted by Mr Saddington and Mr Matusiak that breached the rules. The Yorkshire Post also contacted Meta and Snap for comment.

Cleveland police and crime commissioner Matt Storey acknowledged the reports about the TikTok videos, but urged people to avoid speculation.

He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “Without being able to say whether that was anything like involved in this case, it’s absolutely idiotic for anybody to be doing anything other than being completely 100% focused on the road when they’re behind the wheel of a vehicle.

“And for somebody to be filming themselves or doing anything like that is absolutely ridiculous, and of course nobody should be doing that.

“And it is a worrying situation if that’s becoming more prevalent because it is incredibly dangerous.”

Online safety regulator Ofcom said: “Under the Online Safety Act, platforms must minimise children’s exposure to violent material and content promoting dangerous challenges.

“In July, we launched an investigation into TikTok’s compliance with its child safety duties, and we’ve shown we’ll take action if evidence suggests companies are falling short.”

A fundraiser created by the Cleveland Police Federation for the families of the officers had reached more than £250,000 this morning.

Cleveland Police launched the chase after receiving intelligence relating to “numerous incidents” linked to a Passat, which activated an ANPR camera and is believed to have been using cloned plates, investigating watchdog the Independent Office for Police Conduct said.

Pc Blades and Pc Clough were not involved in the original pursuit, but had been called to the area to assist with the search for the Passat.

Family members described former Civil Nuclear Constabulary officer Pc Clough as “our hero” who was “always on public duty”.

The father-of-two’s family called him “our superhero” and said: “He gave his life in the line of duty, protecting and serving others with courage, dedication and selflessness.”

In a statement issued by Cleveland Police, Pc Blades’ wife called him “my beloved husband, my best friend, and the most devoted father to our two young boys”.

She said he was “an adored son and brother, a perfect son-in-law, and the most fun uncle”.

“He was loved beyond words by all his family and friends, and his loss has left a space that can never be filled,” she said.

“Our children will grow up knowing what an incredible father he was and will always be, and I will carry his love, his memory and everything we shared with me always.”

She added: “Forever loved. Forever missed. Forever our superhero. Our Matt and Dad.”