Inquests have opened into the deaths of two Cleveland Police officers killed in a wrong-way collision on the A66 near Middlesbrough on Saturday. PC Matthew Blades, aged 37, and PC Tom Clough, aged 38, died when a Volkswagen Passat travelling against traffic struck their marked police vehicle. Area Coroner for Teesside and Hartlepool Paul Appleton has provisionally concluded both officers died from head and neck injuries.
The collision occurred between Normanby Road and Church Lane in Eston after the Volkswagen Passat was driven against the flow of traffic on the dual carriageway. Five young men in the Passat also died in the crash. The coroner noted there had been an aborted police pursuit, which neither officer was directly involved in. PC Blades was identified by his wife and PC Clough by his partner.
The coroner said he was awaiting a report on full post-mortem examinations, a report from the Independent Office for Police Conduct, and a police collision report before the inquests could proceed further.
What do we know about the officers?
PC Matthew Blades had previously worked as an English teacher before joining the police. He was a father of two and his family described him as a
beloved husbandand the
most devoted father. His wife said:
He may have left this world committed to the duty he believed in, but his greatest legacy will always be the love he gave to his family. Forever our super hero.
PC Tom Clough had served in the Army before his policing career. A former colleague said he was a
true friend, fantastic soldier and I have no doubt even better police officer. His family highlighted his character and dedication, saying he had a
fantastic sense of humourand would jump
into action whenever needed. They described him as their
hero, always
willing to help anyone for any reason.
What were the circumstances of the crash?
The Independent Office for Police Conduct established that officers had been pursuing the Volkswagen Passat seven minutes after it was connected to earlier alleged criminal activity, but the pursuit was abandoned 10 seconds before the collision when the vehicle turned onto the dual carriageway. PC Blades and PC Clough were not involved in the active pursuit; they had been searching for the Passat after its cloned registration plates triggered an automated number plate recognition camera.
How are the five young men being remembered?
Tributes have been paid to the five young men who died in the Volkswagen Passat, though a community group has appealed for respectful remembrance. Active Tees Valley issued a statement on Facebook after messages were spray-painted on the East Middlesbrough Events Centre, formerly the Middlebeck Social Club. Graffiti included phrases such as
RIP The Boys,
Never Be Forgotten RIP The Lads, and the initials of those in the vehicle with
Rest easy boys.
The community group acknowledged the desire to express emotion and pay respects but urged people to consider the impact on local facilities. Their statement read:
We understand that people want to express their emotions and pay their respects, but damaging buildings that are being used to support local residents ultimately impacts the same community we are all trying to look after.
What is the status of the investigation?
Police have arrested 17 people aged between 18 and 61 across Teesside as part of an ongoing investigation into the circumstances leading to the crash. Those arrested face a range of offences, including possession of a firearm and involvement in an organised crime group.
How much has the fundraiser raised?
A fundraiser established by Cleveland Police Federation for the two officers' families has exceeded £1m, with donations continuing to arrive. The appeal was launched on 23 August 2026 to support the families and to prevent unofficial fundraising pages from exploiting the tragedy. According to West Mercia Police Federation, the official GoFundMe platform was established as the sole authorised fundraising channel for the families.
The appeal has attracted substantial backing from across the policing community. The Cleveland branch of the National Association of Retired Police Officers contributed £4,000 to the cause. Grant Thorburn, chair of the retired officers' branch, reflected on the impact of the deaths within the force.
Once you're a police officer, you're always a police officer, so even after you retire, particularly in Cleveland, it's such a small, compact force, everyone knows everyone else.He described the tributes and donations as
humblingand said the officers' deaths had
hit home hard.
Paul Williams, acting deputy national chair of the Police Federation, emphasised the profound effect on the wider policing community.
The policing family is deeply scarred by this incident. This just brings it home as to how vulnerable we actually are.He stressed that police officers were ordinary people with families, relationships and personal lives beyond their professional duties.
By 25 August, Cleveland Police Federation reported the fundraiser had reached more than £800,000, demonstrating the rapid growth in public support following the officers' deaths. The fundraiser had passed £500,000 and attracted nearly 5,000 donations, with the target repeatedly increased from an initial £7,000 to £200,000 as support grew.
How will the funds be distributed?
The fundraiser will be divided equally between the families of PC Blades and PC Clough, with each family able to use their share as they wish. The appeal remains active with no fixed end date, and donations continue to be directed to support the officers' families during this period.
