Full Breakdown
Fatal Police Pursuit Ends in Head-On Collision on the A66 Near Middlesbrough
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
On August 22, a Volkswagen Passat travelling the wrong way down the A66 near South Bank, Middlesbrough, collided head-on with a marked Cleveland Police vehicle. The crash killed seven people: five young men—Michael Robert Cahill, Jakub Matusiak, Makai Saddington, Theo Rae and Cole Robert Worthy (17)—and two police officers, PC Tom Clough and PC Matthew Blades.
Background & Context
Cleveland Police had initiated a pursuit of the Passat after an earlier incident in which a house in the Acklam area, linked to Cole Worthy, was rammed by another vehicle. The force previously indicated that the five occupants of the Passat might have been involved in “serious and organised criminal activity,” and that four of them had prior convictions.
Timeline of Key Moments
- 3:33 am – The police pursuit begins.
- Six minutes 12 seconds later – The Passat slows, turns right and proceeds down the A66 in the opposite direction of traffic.
- The pursuing police car turns off its blue warning lights and continues on the right-hand side of the road, without following the Passat onto the wrong carriageway.
- ? 17 seconds later – The Passat collides with the police vehicle carrying PC Clough and PC Blades.
Investigation Findings
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) conducted an initial investigation and found no evidence of “tactical contact” or the use of a stinger by police to stop the Passat. A forensic collision investigator is still determining the speeds of both vehicles at impact. The IOPC has commissioned two expert reports: one to reconstruct the collision and another to review policies and procedures governing police pursuits. Director of Engagement Emily Barry noted that the volume of information will require months, not weeks, to complete the full investigation.
Official Statements & Responses
Emily Barry, IOPC Director of Engagement, expressed sympathy for the families and emphasized the “devastating and long-lasting impact” on both the victims’ relatives and the policing community. She clarified that the officers involved are being treated as witnesses and that the watchdog is focused on establishing precisely what occurred in the run-up to the crash. Cleveland Police have paid tribute to the fallen officers and continue to engage with the families of all victims.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Ms Barry added: "The officers involved at this stage are being treated as witnesses.” — Ms Barry
- “I wish to again extend my sympathies to the family and friends of those involved, and to everyone who has been impacted by the loss of lives. We continue to recognise the devastating and long-lasting impact this incident has had on the families and those in the force, the policing community, and the wider local community.” — IOPC Director
What Remains Unclear
- The exact speeds of the Passat and the police vehicle at the moment of collision have not yet been released.
- The forthcoming IOPC reports will address whether existing pursuit policies contributed to the fatal outcome and what procedural changes, if any, may be recommended.
The investigation remains ongoing, and the IOPC has pledged regular updates to the families while it works toward a comprehensive understanding of the events that led to the tragedy on the A66.