Image source, PA Media

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), often referred to as the police watchdog, is the body responsible for investigating police conduct in England and Wales.

As an independent body, the IOPC says its decisions are "made entirely independently of the police and government".

It previously stated the investigation into the fatal A66 crash was launched following a self-referral from Cleveland Police, which is mandatory "when someone dies following police contact".

In an update on Sunday afternoon, the IOPC said that the police pursuit of the Volkswagen involved in the crash was aborted about 10 seconds before the collision.

Its director of engagement, Derrick Campbell, says investigators have so far obtained "initial accounts of officers involved in the pursuit, the incident log and in car footage of the incident".

“IOPC investigators will continue to review and analyse all the evidence that is available to us," he adds.

A Gofundme set up to provide support for the families of PC Tom Clough and PC Matthew Blades has surpassed £360,000.

It was set up by the Cleveland Police Federation, which said the officers paid the "ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty".

The funds, it says, will be split equally between their two families and used as they wish.

The identities of all seven people who died in Saturday's crash were confirmed by Cleveland Police yesterday. Their names are:

Two police officers

• PC Matthew Blades, 37
• PC Tom Clough, 38

Five killed in Passat

• Michael Robert Cahill, 23
• Theo Rae, 17
• Cole Robert Worthy, 17
• Jakub Matusiak, 23
• Makai Saddington, 18

Pamela Tickell
BBC News, North East and Cumbria

On BBC Radio 4's Today programme Matt Storey was asked about reports that at least one of the young men had been involved in filming dangerous driving in TikTok videos.

Storey said: "Yeah, there has been speculation around that, but what I've been trying to say all throughout this is it's really best for people to avoid that kind of speculation."

But talking about the social media trend, he said: "Without being able to say whether that was anything like involved in this case, it's absolutely idiotic for anybody to be doing anything other than being completely 100% focused on the road when they're behind the wheel of a vehicle.

"And for somebody to be filming themselves or doing anything like that is absolutely ridiculous, and of course nobody should be doing that.

"And it is a worrying situation if that's becoming more prevalent because it is incredibly dangerous.

"As I say, it may not have been the case in this situation, we don't know, but anybody who is doing that, wherever it might be, is absolutely wrong to do so."

TikTok video appears to show killed teen in previous police chasepublished at 10:25 BST 24 August

10:25 BST 24 August

By Benedict Garman

A TikTok account believed to belong to Makai Saddington, one of the teenagers who died in Saturday's crash, includes a video of him and four other young people involved in what appears to be a police car chase.

It was published on TikTok on 25 March 2025 and has since been deleted, along with the account.

The video starts with the view out of the rear window of an Audi as a police car with its lights flashing chases it through a residential area.

BBC Verify geolocated the route and found that of the approximately 1km (0.6 miles) driven in the video, only the first 100m is on a road.

The rest of the video is driving on footpaths and parkland in Ormesby, Middlesbrough.

Towards the end of the video, which lasts 1 minute 34 seconds, the camera turns and a young person, who appears to be Saddington, smiles at the camera.

Facial comparison software matches other images of Saddington to the passenger in the rear of this Audi with very high confidence.

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 (160kph).

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

The Defence Minister Luke Pollard has called on social media companies to remove posts that celebrate dangerous driving.

Speaking to the BBC he says he wants to see social media companies "step up".

"They know exactly what content is on their site, they know how their algorithms work, they also know that people post content to get views. The more views you can get - sometimes you get money for it.

He says there's a "financial incentive" to post "outrageous content" that can bring more views.

"When it's dangerous and unsafe like this, let's be absolutely clear, that content should not be online, should not be celebrating this type of behaviour and I hope social media companies take it down."

The collection of flowers, balloons and cards for the victims has been growing on the junction of the A66 and Church/Eston Road.

Among the tributes was a toy police car and hand-drawn pictures of officers.

One of the letters read: "To go to work to keep our area safe and to not return home is truly heartbreaking.

"Our heroes."

Another said: "To the brave officers who made the ultimate sacrifice in the name of duty."

One of the letter paid tribute to the young men saying: "Rest easy lads.

"We'll hold the memories forever."

Image source, BBC / Philippa Goymer

Image source, BBC / Philippa Goymer

Locals and police officers have been leaving floral tributes and messages at a cordon at the scene of Saturday's crash.

One couple spoke to the BBC at the cordon over the weekend. They said the "absolutely awful" crash would "affect our whole community".

Elisia and Vincent Haarhoff said they wanted to come down to express their solidarity with police, who lost two of their colleagues.

"No family deserves that," said Elisia. "God bless all the families, honestly."

She added: "We wanted to come... [the police here have] always been so lovely."

Vincent said the couple have relied on police a few times and know "quite a few of them", although they didn't know PC Matthew Blades or PC Tom Clough, who died in the crash on Saturday.

Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner Matt Storey says compassion is "important" for police during this time.

"Those 999 calls don't stop, we've still got officers going out everyday dealing with those kind of issues, tackling crime locally they've got to continue doing this knowing what's happened, they're incredibly brave continuing to do the good work that they do."

Speaking to BBC Radio Teesside he says Cleveland Police officers are "highly regarded" and have been there for their community in their time of need.

"We need to be there now for Cleveland Police now as they deal with this tragedy."

His message for the wider community is that they can approach officers and ask how they are, he hopes for an "arm around a shoulder" for them.

"Let's just keep thinking about our police force in a positive way at this time because they need our support," he adds.

The crash happened on the eastbound section of the A66 in South Bank, near Middlesbrough on Teesside, at about 03:39 BST on Saturday.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) says officers "sighted a suspicious vehicle" and a pursuit began, however the pursuit - which lasted "just under seven minutes" - had ended shortly before the fatal crash.

According to the IOPC, the Volkswagen Passat started travelling the wrong way on the A66 and "approximately 10 seconds later" it collided with another police car - which was not part of the pursuit and was in the area "to assist in a search for the Passat believed to be using cloned plates".

The crash killed officers PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough, as well as the five occupants of the Passat.

Pamela Tickell
BBC News, North East and Cumbria

Redcar and Cleveland Borough councillor for the South Bank Ward Sue Jeffrey says the local community is "still trying to process" the tragic deaths.

She tells BBC Radio Tees people are still "numb with the shock of what's gone on".

A silent prayer vigil will be held at the church of St John the Evangelist in South Bank this afternoon.

Parish priest, Father Malcolm Lockey, will say prayers at the start of each hour and be on hand for those who need personal prayer and support.

Jeffrey said: "People will be feeling really, really upset by what's happened.

Image source, BBC / Louise Hobson

Jamie Whitehead
Live editor

Tributes have been made to two police officers who were killed following a car crash on the A66, near Middlesbrough on Saturday. Five other people, who were travelling in a Volkswagen Passat the wrong way along the road, also died.

Yesterday, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said the crash happened after the Passat had been involved in a police chase which ended shortly before it collided with the marked police vehicle carrying PC Tom Clough and PC Matthew Blades.

Clough and Blades were not involved in the pursuit but were in the area to assist in a search for the Passat, the IOPC said on Sunday.

The families of the two officers have paid tribute to them, describing Clough as a "hero" and Blades as a "devoted father".

Cleveland Police named the five in the Passat as Cole Robert Worthy, 17, Theo Rae, 17, Makai Saddington, 18, Jakub Matusiak, 23, and Michael Robert Cahill, 23.

Stay with us for further updates.