Tributes continue to pour in for the two "hero" police officers whose lives were cut short after a horror crash on the A66.
PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough died when their marked police vehicle was involved in a crash with a Volkswagen Passat in South Bank, Middlesbrough, at 3.39am on Saturday, August 22.
A sea of floral tributes, balloons and heartfelt messages have since been laid at the scene and Cleveland Police HQ for the officers.
Police officers look at flowers at the Cleveland Police HQ in Middlesbrough,
(Image: Owen Humphreys)
The pair were among seven people who died at the scene, which has left communities across Teesside in a state of shock and grief.
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.
A fundraiser created by the Cleveland Police Federation on Sunday has reached more than £800,000 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: **https://gofund.me/07bf7241c**
His family said: “He was our hero with a fantastic sense of humour. Jumped into action whenever needed, and willing to help anyone for any reason.”
PC Tom Clough
(Image: CLEVELAND POLICE)
She said: “He was loved beyond words by all his family and friends, and his loss has left a space that can never be filled.
“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.”
PC Matthew Blades
(Image: CLEVELAND POLICE)
She added: “Forever loved. Forever missed. Forever our superhero. Our Matt and Dad.”
It comes after the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) confirmed the collision followed a police chase 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.
Police officers look at flowers at the Cleveland Police HQ in Middlesbrough,
(Image: Owen Humphreys)
About ten 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.
Police have previously said that the five young men in the Passat may have had links to “serious and organised criminal activity”.
All but Cahill had previous criminal convictions and were believed to be associated with another car, a Volvo XC60, which was seen ramming properties earlier that morning.
Police officers look at flowers at the Cleveland Police HQ in Middlesbrough,
(Image: Owen Humphreys)
They are a boy aged 16, an 18-year-old and a man of 21, all on suspicion of participating in an organised crime group; a 55-year-old on suspicion of assisting an offender and a 23-year-old on suspicion of making threats to kill.
All five remain in police custody.
Two of the seventeen arrested have since been charged.
Kai Beattie, 19, of Foxrush Close in Redcar, has been charged with possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and appeared at Teesside Magistrates' Court on Tuesday (August 25) morning.
Cameron George, 26, of Micklow Close in Redcar, was also previously charged with possession with intent to supply class A and class B drugs, and possession of criminal property.
Flowers at the Cleveland Police HQ in Middlesbrough
(Image: owen humphreys)
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He was remanded in custody to appear at Teesside Crown Court on September 21, charged with drugs offences and possession of criminal property.
Inquests into the deaths of PC Blades and PC Clough are now listed to be opened at Teesside Coroner’s Court at 10am on Thursday (August 27).
An opening hearing for Theo Rae is also scheduled at the same venue at 2.05pm.