Full Breakdown
Funeral for A66 crash victim prompts early school closures in Middlesbrough
9/5/2026, 7:50:00 PM
Core Event
On August 22, a Volkswagen Passat travelling the wrong way on the A66 near South Bank collided head-on with a Cleveland Police armed-response vehicle. The crash killed seven people: the five young men in the Passat—Jakub Matusiak 23, Cole Worthy 17, Theo Rae 17, Makai Saddington 18 and Michael Cahill 23—and Police Constables Matthew Blades 37 and Tom Clough 38.
The first funeral was held on September 4 at St John The Evangelist Church, South Bank. Anticipated crowds and traffic led local authorities and headteachers to close several schools early that afternoon.
Background & Context
The crash sparked community unrest, including a vigil for Michael Cahill that resulted in vehicle-arson attacks in nearby Haswell. Cleveland Police warned of possible congestion on South Bank, Normanby Road, Teesville, Ormesby, Marton and Acklam Road between 3 pm and 5 pm. The funeral procession featured two white horses, a white Rolls-Royce and a Lamborghini, with mourners wearing black or orange—the favourite colour of Jakub Matusiak.
Data & Statistics
- Fatalities: 7 (5 passengers, 2 police officers)
- Schools closing early: four confirmed (South Bank Primary School, Outwood Academy Normanby, St Peter’s Catholic College, St Margaret Clitherow Primary)
- Closure times ranged from 11:45 am to 12:15 pm to allow pupils to leave safely
Official Statements & Responses
Education Secretary Lucy Powell told BBC Radio 4’s *Today* programme that she trusts headteachers to make “very difficult decisions” to protect pupils, noting she had spoken with local MPs, Home Office ministers and police to deploy surge policing.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Today's events have passed without issue and with very minimal traffic disruption.” — Supt John Wrintmore, Cleveland Police
- “A funeral is being held locally at St John’s church on Normanby Road that day and we are expecting large numbers of people in the area which will inevitably cause congestion and transport disruption in the immediate area.” — Tammy Cooper, South Bank Primary School
- “Our children should be able to attend school safely and without their education being affected by events happening elsewhere,” — Cllr Brown, Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council
Timeline
- August 22 – A66 head-on collision kills seven.
- Early September – Authorities issue traffic-disruption warnings for the funeral.
- Friday, September 4 – Funeral held; four schools close early at lunchtime.
Why It Matters
The early school closures illustrate the tension between community mourning and the need to maintain safe, uninterrupted education. Officials stress that the decisions were based on risk assessments, while critics argue that criminal intimidation should not dictate school schedules. The incident also highlights the broader challenge of policing a neighbourhood described by residents as “neglected” and prone to “vehicle-ramming” attacks, prompting a significant police deployment to restore order.
