Inquests into deaths of 'hero' police officers and man in A66 crash to open this week

Opening inquests into the deaths of two police officers and one of the five people travelling in a Volkswagen Passat in the A66 crash are due to be…

Inquests into deaths of 'hero' police officers and man in A66 crash to open this week

Inquests will be opened into the deaths of two police officers and one of the five people killed in the A66 crash this week.

PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough died when their marked police car crashed with a Volkswagen Passat going the wrong way up the A66 at South Bank at 3.39am on Saturday, August 22.

Five people in the Passat - Cole Robert Worthy, 17, Theo Rae, 17, Makai Saddington, 18, and 23-year-olds Michael Robert Cahill and Jacob Matusiak - also died at the scene.

Inquests into the deaths of PC Blades and PC Clough are listed to be opened at Teesside Coroner’s Court in Middlesbrough at 10am on Thursday (August 27).

Tributes at the scene of the crash

(Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

An opening hearing for Theo Rae is also scheduled at the same venue at 2.05pm.

Theo Rae, 17, (left) and fellow crash victim Cole Robert Worthy, 17.

(Image: SOCIAL MEDIA)

The coroner’s office has not yet listed dates for the opening hearings into the deaths of the other four people travelling in the Volkswagen Passat.

In the days since the tragedy, an influx of floral tributes, balloons and handwritten notes have been left at the crash site.

Tributes at the scene of the crash

(Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

A fundraiser created by the Cleveland Police Federation has reached nearly £800,000 early on Tuesday.

Organisers said funds raised will be split equally between the two officers’ families, and the federation will continue to provide support.

  • You can donate to the fundraiser here: gofund.me/07bf7241c

PC Clough’s family described the former Civil Nuclear Constabulary officer as “our hero” who was “always on public duty”.

PC Tom Clough

(Image: CLEVELAND POLICE)

While PC Blades’ wife paid tribute to her “beloved husband”, “best friend” and “the most devoted father to our two young boys”.

PC Matthew Blades

(Image: CLEVELAND POLICE)

It comes after police said five young men who died after their vehicle hit a police car on a dual carriageway may have had links to “serious and organised criminal activity”.

From left to right: Makai Saddington, 18, Theo Rae, 17, Cole Robert Worthy, 17, Jakub Matusiak, 23, Michael Robert Cahill, 23.

(Image: SOCIAL MEDIA)

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Seventeen people have been arrested over alleged criminality leading up to the crash in Teesside.

Fourteen males and three women, aged between 16 and 61, have been arrested on suspicion of offences including possession of a firearm and involvement in organised crime.

Two have been charged to appear in court.