Twelve arrested after A66 crash kills two police officers and five others

Seven people died as a result of the crash on the A66 in Middlesborough

Two police officers were among those killed (Picture: Richard McCarthy/PA Wire) Twelve people have been arrested following a crash on the A66 which killed seven people, including two police officers. Nine men and three women, aged between 19 and 61, have been arrested by officers investigating the events leading up to the crash on the A66 on Saturday. The crash – which occurred when a car, thought to be a Volkswagen Passat, was driven the wrong way along the A road and collided with a police car – killed two officers, PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough. Five teenagers and young men – Michael Robert Cahill, 23, Theo Rae, 17, Cole Robert Worthy, 16, Jacob Matusiak, 23, and Makai Saddington, 18 – also died. All seven victims were declared dead at the scene shortly before 4am. Sign up for all of the latest stories Start your day informed with Metro's News Updates newsletter or get Breaking News alerts the moment it happens. PC Tom Clough was killed in the crash alongside six other people (Picture: Cleveland Police/PA Wire) Police say the arrests come following several reports of two vehicles being driven dangerously. Another vehicle, believed to be a Volvo XC60, was witnessed ramming properties in the Middlesbrough area, they said. Both vehicles had cloned number plates, which police believer were being used to avoid detection. However, they were picked up by the force’s automated number plate recognition technology. The Volvo XC60 has now been recovered in Middlesbrough as part of the police’s investigation. Some of the people arrested are suspected of ‘participating in the activities of an organised crime group’, Cleveland Police said. They added that four of the deceased who had been in the car when it hit the police vehicle had previous police convictions. Assistant Chief Constable Wayne Fox, responsible for the strategic leadership of the investigation, said: ‘This has been a fast-moving and complex investigation, with significant links to serious and organised criminal activity. ‘The events of that tragic night will have a lasting and profound impact on the Cleveland area and the communities we seek to protect.   ‘We have a duty to respond to, and thoroughly investigate, the serious criminal activity that resulted in this fatal incident, and to bring all those responsible to justice. ‘Our robust response will continue in the weeks and months to come, as we continue to tackle those that seek to cause harm to our communities and tackle serious and organised crime.’ ‘Officers and staff across Cleveland have shown incredible resilience in continuing their work in the face of tragedy. ‘Two of their colleagues lost their lives while serving the people of Cleveland and, while the impact will be felt by our people for a long time to come, they have continued to act with the upmost professionalism. ‘I am also extremely grateful for the support we have received, and continue to receive, from the public of Cleveland and our wider police family.’ Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source

Seven people died following the collision, including two police officers

Seven people died following the collision, including two police officers

Two serving police officers and five members of the public were pronounced dead at the scene