Who were the seven killed in wrong-way crash?

Two police officers and five young men died in the early hours of 22 August when a car going the wrong way down a dual carriageway crashed into an oncoming police vehicle. Who were they?

All seven were killed when a Volkswagen Passat, going the wrong way down the A66 at South Bank, near Middlesbrough, hit a Cleveland Police armed response vehicle heading in the opposite direction at 03:39 BST.

Officers had been pursuing the car for almost seven minutes after it was connected to earlier alleged criminal activity, but the pursuit was abandoned 10 seconds before the crash when the Passat turned on to the dual carriageway, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said.

When someone dies following police contact, it is mandatory for the case to be referred to the IOPC to investigate.

PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough were in a vehicle looking for the Passat after its cloned registration plates triggered an automated number plate recognition camera, although they were not involved in the pursuit, according to the IOPC.

PC Blades, a 37-year-old father of two, was a "beloved husband" and the "most devoted father", his family 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," his wife said, adding he would be "forever our super hero".

He had previously taught English at Carmel College in Darlington, who remembered him as an "intelligent, kind and approachable teacher, a valued colleague and someone who gave generously of himself to the young people in his care".

The officer also coached youth football teams in his free time, firstly at FC Hartlepool and latterly at Seaton Carew FC, who said he was looking forward to his first season leading the under-sevens Seahawks team.

FC Hartlepool said he was "role model, mentor [and] friend" whom the children had "looked up to and admired".

"His kindness, patience, and infectious personality made him loved by all who had the privilege of knowing him," the club added.

PC Clough had served in the Army, with one man saying he was a "true friend, fantastic soldier and I have no doubt even better police officer".

His family said he had a "fantastic sense of humour" and would jump "into action whenever needed".

They added he had been their "hero", always "willing to help anyone for any reason".

They also said he had "proudly fought for his country to make the world a better place" and had always been "on public duty throughout his short life".

The five people in the Passat were Michael Robert Cahill, 23, Jacob Matusiak, 23, Makai Saddington, 18, and 17-year-olds Theo Rae and Cole Robert Worthy.

Friends and family held a vigil and balloon release for the group on 24 August.

Four of the five killed had previous convictions, including for assaulting police officers, Cleveland Police revealed.

Cole Worthy, 17, had admitted offences including assault of a police officer, using abusive language to cause harassment, alarm and distress, and driving without a licence and insurance.

Makai Saddington, 18, had also been convicted of assaulting police officers, had pleaded guilty to racially aggravated harassment, and was caught with a knife and a class C drug.

Seventeen-year-old Theo Rae's offences included 12 for shoplifting, thefts from vehicles, assaulting a police officer and aggravated vehicle taking.

Jakub Matusiak, 23, had pleaded guilty to using a vehicle without insurance and driving without a licence.

Michael Robert Cahill, 23, had no convictions.

The BBC has also verified video believed to have been published on Makai Saddington's TikTok account in March 2025 which appeared to show him and four other young people in a car being pursued by police.

The one minute 34 second-long clip, which has since been deleted, showed the car driving on footpaths and parkland in Ormesby, Middlesbrough, with Saddington a rear-seat passenger.

Another video posted by the same account, also since deleted, appears to show a joyride where a passenger is smoking, with the speedometer showing 100mph (161k/mh).

Then, later in the video, a different car was set on fire. The passengers in this video are not identifiable.

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