The police watchdog has found no evidence that officers rammed or spiked the car involved in the fatal collision near Middlesbrough. No tactical contact was used. No stinger was deployed. Seven men died, including two serving police officers. That ruling, issued on 29 September 2026, answers weeks of rumour about the A66 crash at South Bank. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) says the evidence so far shows officers never touched the Volkswagen Passat.
- Crash time and place: 3.39 am on 22 August 2026, on the A66 at South Bank, near Middlesbrough.
- A wrong-way VW Passat struck a marked Cleveland Police armed response vehicle.
- PC Matthew Blades, 37, and PC Tom Clough, 38, died. Neither had been following the Passat.
- Five young men in the Passat also died at the scene.
- The pursuit started at 3.33 am and was called off seconds before impact.
- Officers are treated as witnesses, and the inquiry will take months.
What the Watchdog Has Ruled Out
Two claims spread fast online. The first was that a police car had struck the Passat on purpose, a tactic known as tactical contact. The second claim was that officers had laid a stinger, a portable spike strip used to puncture the tyres of vehicles. The IOPC has rejected both. Its review of in-car footage, the incident log and officer accounts shows no contact and that no spike strip was used. IOPC Director of Engagement Emily Barry said, “We are aware there is speculation regarding how the collision occurred. There is no suggestion the collision was a result of any direct police contact, nor was a stinger used by the police in an attempt to stop the Passat.”
Six-Minute Pursuit, Second by Second
The watchdog’s own timeline is short and stark. The pursuit began at 3.33 am. Six minutes and 12 seconds later, at 3.39 am, the Passat slowed hard near the A66 junction. It braked heavily, turned right, and drove along the dual carriageway against the flow of traffic. The pursuing officer did not follow. That driver switched off the blue warning lights and stayed on the correct carriageway. The chase was over. Roughly 17 seconds later, the Passat hit a second police vehicle coming the other way. That car carried PC Clough and PC Blades. They were searching for the Passat after its cloned plates triggered a number plate recognition camera. A forensic collision investigator is still establishing the speed of both vehicles at impact.
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Why the A66 Crash Pursuit Started
Cleveland Police received several reports that morning of two cars being driven dangerously. A Volvo XC60 was seen ramming properties in Middlesbrough, including a house in Acklam. The Passat was linked to that activity. Both cars wore cloned plates to dodge detection. The Volvo was later recovered. Sky News reported that the force believed the five men in the Passat may have had links to “serious and organised criminal activity”. Nine men and three women, aged 19 to 61, were later arrested, four over an organised crime group.
Seven Men Who Died
PC Blades was a father of two and a former English teacher at Carmel College in Darlington. He coached youth football at FC Hartlepool and Seaton Carew FC. His wife called him “forever our superhero”. PC Clough had served in the army before joining the police. His family described him as their hero, with a fantastic sense of humour. The five men in the Passat were Michael Robert Cahill, 23, Jakub Matusiak, 23, Makai Saddington, 18, and two 17-year-olds, Theo Rae and Cole Robert Worthy. Friends held a vigil for them on 24 August. Cleveland Police later confirmed four of the five had previous convictions, including for assaulting officers. Michael Cahill had none. The BBC verified a since-deleted March 2025 video that appeared to show Saddington being chased by police.
Two Expert Reports Commissioned
The IOPC has ordered two independent reports. One will reconstruct the collision. The other will assess the policies and procedures currently in place for officers during pursuits. That will test whether the pursuit rules were followed. Reporting by The Independent stressed the volume of material still to be checked. Barry said: “It’s important to acknowledge that due to the vast amount of information to be reviewed, analysed and verified, along with the expert reports that have been commissioned to support our investigation, we anticipate it will take months, rather than weeks, to conclude our investigation.”
Community Response and Next Steps
More than £1.2 million has been raised for the officers’ families, up from the £500,000 pledged in the first days. Hundreds lined the streets for their funerals. Chief Constable Victoria Fuller of Cleveland Police paid tribute to both men as brave, committed professionals who put the public first. V2 Radio and ITV News Tyne Tees carried the watchdog’s update in full, with its promise that every family will get regular briefings. The referral to the IOPC was mandatory, as any death following police contact must go to the watchdog. Inquests have been opened and adjourned while that work continues. One question about the A66 crash is now settled. Police did not cause the impact. The harder questions about the pursuit stay open.
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FAQs
What caused the A66 crash?
Ans: A Volkswagen Passat drove the wrong way along the dual carriageway and hit an oncoming marked police car head-on. The IOPC found no police contact caused the impact.
Did police ram the car on the A66?
Ans: No. The watchdog found no evidence of tactical contact. The pursuing officer stayed on the correct carriageway and switched off the blue lights.
Was a stinger used during the pursuit?
Ans: No stinger was deployed. A stinger is a spike strip used to burst tyres, and the IOPC confirmed that officers did not use one that morning.
Who died in the A66 crash?
Ans: PC Matthew Blades, 37, and PC Tom Clough, 38, died, along with Michael Cahill, 23, Jakub Matusiak, 23, Makai Saddington, 18, Theo Rae, 17, and Cole Worthy, 17.
How long did the police pursuit last?
Ans: Six minutes and 12 seconds. It began at 3.33 am and was abandoned when the Passat turned onto the wrong carriageway at 3.39 am.
When will the IOPC investigation finish?
Ans: The watchdog expects months rather than weeks. Two expert reports on collision reconstruction and pursuit policy must be completed first.
Sources & References:
- BBC – A since-deleted March 2025 video that appeared to show Saddington being chased by police.
- Independent – The volume of material is still to be checked.
- Sky News – The force believed the five men in the Passat may have had links to “serious and organised criminal activity”.
- V2 Radio – Every family will get regular briefings.
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