Two police officers who died in an early-hours crash near Middlesbrough have been named as PCs Matthew Blades and Tom Clough. They were among seven people killed when their marked police car collided with a vehicle travelling the wrong way on the A66.
Key facts
- Seven people were killed in the crash in North Yorkshire in the early hours of Saturday.
- The two officers who died were named as PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough.
- Their marked police car collided with a Volkswagen Passat travelling the wrong way along the A66.
- A watchdog has launched an inquiry into the collision.
Two police officers who died in a car crash near Middlesbrough in the early hours of Saturday have been named, according to the Guardian. Police constables Matthew Blades and Tom Clough were among seven people killed in the collision on the A66 in North Yorkshire.
The Guardian reported that the officers’ marked police car collided with a Volkswagen Passat that was travelling the wrong way along the road. In total, seven people died in the crash.
A watchdog has launched an inquiry into the collision, the Guardian said.
Al Jazeera reported that the crash follows similar incidents in Ireland, where police had highlighted a social media trend involving driving in the opposite direction.
Details beyond the naming of the two officers and the circumstances of the collision were not provided in the available reports. Further findings are expected to emerge from the watchdog inquiry.
Why it matters
The deaths of seven people, including two serving police officers, and the launch of a watchdog inquiry point to close scrutiny of how the collision occurred. The circumstances remain under investigation, with further findings expected.
Frequently asked questions
Who were the police officers killed in the North Yorkshire crash?
The two officers were named as police constables Matthew Blades and Tom Clough, according to the Guardian.
How many people died in the crash?
Seven people were killed in the collision, including the two police officers.
What caused the collision?
According to the Guardian, the officers' marked police car collided with a Volkswagen Passat that was travelling the wrong way along the A66. A watchdog inquiry has been launched to investigate.