Tributes have been paid to two police officers who died in the A66 crash near Middlesbrough (Image: Cleveland Police/PA Wire)
A fundraiser set up to support the families of two police officers who died when a car driving the wrong way on a dual carriageway crashed into their vehicle has been inundated with support, with more than £300,000 raised. PC Matthew Blades, 37, and PC Tom Clough, 38, were killed when a Volkswagen Passat, that had been pursued by police, hit the marked armed response vehicle seconds after the chase was terminated along the A66 near Middlesbrough.
The Passat and its five occupants – Michael Robert Cahill, 23, Jacob Matusiak, 23, Theo Rae, 17, Makai Saddington, 18, and Cole Robert Worthy, 17 – also died. A fundraiser created by the Cleveland Police Federation on Sunday reached £333,000 at time of writing on Monday morning. Organisers said funds raised would be split equally between the two officers’ families and the federation would continue to provide support.
Flowers left near to the scene on the A66 (Image: Richard McCarthy/PA Wire)
The GoFundMe page said that PC Blades and PC Clough “left their families and went to work to serve their community and protect the public” with the pair paying “the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty”.
“They did not return home to their families. They leave behind heartbroken loved ones who will struggle to come to terms with the loss of their loved one,” the fundraiser added.
Cleveland Police Federation says they are supporting and will continue to support their families at this incredibly difficult time.
Cleveland Police launched the chase after receiving intelligence relating to “numerous incidents” linked to a Passat, which activated an ANPR camera and is believed to have been using cloned plates, investigating watchdog the Independent Office for Police Conduct said.
Police officers at the scene of the fatal A66 crash (Image: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire)
Just 10 seconds after the pursuit ended, the Passat collided with PC Blades and PC Clough’s vehicle. They were not involved in the pursuit but had been called to the area to assist with the search for the Passat.
The wife of PC Blades has paid tribute to her “beloved husband, my best friend, and the most devoted father”.
In a statement released through Cleveland Police, she said the pain of losing her husband was “beyond words” but that their children would grow up always knowing “what an incredible father” he was.
“No words will ever feel like the right words to honour our Matt – my beloved husband, my best friend, and the most devoted father to our two young boys,” she said.
The wife of PC Blades described him as ‘the most devoted father’ (Image: Cleveland Police)
He had recently joined Seaton Carew FC as a coach and was looking forward to teaching his son in its under-sevens Seahawks squad, the club said.
The officer also coached his eldest son and other youngsters in the under-10s Reds team at FC Hartlepool, which described him as a “role model, a mentor, a friend, and someone the children looked up to and admired”.
Meanwhile, PC Clough’s family described him as “our superhero” and said: “He gave his life in the line of duty, protecting and serving others with courage, dedication and selflessness.”
PC Clough’s family said he had had a ‘fantastic sense of humour’ (Image: Cleveland Police/PA Wire)
The father-of-two’s family added: “He was our hero with a fantastic sense of humour. Jumped into action whenever needed, and willing to help anyone for any reason.
“Proudly fought for his country to make the world a better place. Always on public duty throughout his short life.”
“We as a family and Tom’s partner would like to express our sincere gratitude for the overwhelming support and condolences from friends, colleagues and the wider community.”
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he was “devastated” by the news and thanked emergency services for responding in “incredibly difficult circumstances”.
