Two Cleveland Police officers are among seven people who died after a Volkswagen Passat travelling the wrong way on the A66 collided head-on with a marked police vehicle during a pursuit, with the force confirming all occupants of both vehicles were pronounced dead at the scene.
Seven people have died following a collision on the A66 near Middlesbrough, with two of the victims confirmed as serving Cleveland Police officers. Redcar MP Anna Turley revealed the details of those killed in a post on X, describing the officers as having been on duty at the time of the crash. Cleveland Police have since confirmed the Volkswagen Passat involved was travelling the wrong way along the carriageway when it collided with the police vehicle, which had been pursuing it at the time. The road remains closed while emergency services and investigators continue working at the scene.
How the crash happened
Cleveland Police confirmed that the crash occurred during a police pursuit of a vehicle described by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) as “suspicious.” The force said: “The Passat was travelling the wrong way along the A66 and collided with a police vehicle that was travelling on the same road in the right direction.” Police said the collision happened at approximately 3.39am on Saturday, 22 August.
Seven people died in total: five members of the public who were travelling in the Volkswagen Passat, and the two Cleveland Police officers in the marked police vehicle. Cleveland Police said: “Sadly, all occupants of both vehicles were pronounced dead at the scene.” At the time of the latest updates, police were still working to formally identify all five occupants of the Volkswagen and to contact their families.
North East Ambulance Service deployed 14 resources to the scene, including emergency ambulance crews, a specialist paramedic, a hazardous area response team and a doctor from the Great North Air Ambulance Service. Early reports from the ambulance service described the incident as involving three vehicles, though Cleveland Police’s public statements have focused specifically on the collision between the police vehicle and the Volkswagen Passat. This apparent discrepancy has not yet been publicly clarified by police.
Where the crash happened
The collision took place in South Bank, on the outskirts of Middlesbrough. The precise location on the A66 has not been officially confirmed, though Cleveland Police have said the road remains closed between Normanby Road and Church Lane, warning that this section is likely to “remain closed for some time.” The force has asked motorists to use alternative routes while the closure remains in place.
Tributes to the officers who died
Anna Turley, the MP for Redcar, where the crash occurred, paid tribute to those killed in a series of posts on X. She said her “heart goes out to every family, friend and loved one now facing the most unimaginable loss following this morning’s devastating accident on the A66,” adding: “Cleveland Police have confirmed that seven people have sadly lost their lives. Their families and loved ones are now facing an unimaginable loss that will be felt forever.”
Speaking specifically about the two officers among the dead, Turley said: “Two of the seven people who have lost their lives were Cleveland Police officers, on duty serving our community. They went to work to keep people safe, and they should have come home to their families. Their loss will be felt deeply by their loved ones, fellow officers and right across the communities they served.”
Turley also thanked the emergency services who responded to the scene overnight, praising their “courage, care and professionalism,” and urged the public to avoid speculating online out of respect for the families involved and the police carrying out their work.
Police chief’s response
Cleveland Police Chief Constable Victoria Fuller also addressed the “tragic incident,” saying the force’s thoughts were “with the families of everyone involved in today’s incident.” She said: “No one should leave their home and not return safely, including police officers serving their communities and protecting the people of Cleveland. This tragic incident will be felt across Cleveland, within our communities and throughout the entire policing family. We are providing specialist support to all families involved at this extremely difficult time.”
IOPC investigation launched
Fuller confirmed that the incident has been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, in line with standard procedure whenever a death occurs following contact with police. “The investigation has been referred to the IOPC, which is the standard approach when a death occurs following police contact,” she said. “We will cooperate fully with their investigation. While this investigation takes place, we strongly urge people to avoid speculation.”
The IOPC investigation is specifically examining the circumstances of the police pursuit and the collision that followed, having been launched under a mandatory referral process triggered whenever deaths occur in connection with police contact.
Scenes from the crash site
Drone footage captured on the morning after the crash shows the extent of the wreckage at the scene, with debris from both the police vehicle and the Volkswagen Passat scattered across the road. Images show a tent erected over part of the wreckage, along with what appears to be a tarpaulin covering one of the vehicles involved, as investigators worked to examine the scene.
The collision is being described as one of the most serious incidents involving Cleveland Police officers in recent years, with the deaths expected to have a significant impact on the force and the wider policing community. Police have stressed that the investigation remains rapidly developing, with further details expected as enquiries continue.
