12 arrested as investigation into fatal A66 crash uncovers suspected organised crime

Twelve people have been arrested as police investigate the criminal activity that preceded a devastating crash on the A66 near Middlesbrough, which claimed the lives of seven people, including two police officers.

Nine men and three women, aged between 19 and 61, have been detained across Teesside over a range of suspected offences, including involvement in an organised crime group, firearms offences, drug supply and criminal damage.

The crash happened in the early hours of Saturday after a Volkswagen Passat, which police had been pursuing, travelled in the wrong direction along the A66 near South Bank.

It collided with a police vehicle travelling on the correct side of the road. PC Matthew Blades, 37, and PC Tom Clough, 38, were killed, along with all five people travelling in the Passat.

Theo Rae and Cole Worthy (top left), Jakub Matusiak (top right), Makai Saddington (bottom left), Michael Cahill (bottom right).

Those who died in the Passat have been named as Michael Robert Cahill, 23, Jacob Matusiak, 23, Makai Saddington, 18, Theo Rae, 17, and Cole Robert Worthy, 17.

Cleveland Police said its investigation had revealed reports of two vehicles being driven dangerously in the Middlesbrough area before the collision. One was believed to be a Volvo XC60, which was reportedly involved in ramming properties. The second was the Passat.

Both vehicles are believed to have been using cloned registration plates and were detected by automatic number plate recognition systems. The Volvo has since been recovered.

Police said four of the five people who died in the Passat had previous convictions.

Assistant Chief Constable Wayne Fox described the investigation as complex and said officers had a responsibility to establish what happened and pursue those responsible for the criminal activity surrounding the incident.

The arrests include several people suspected of participating in an organised crime group, while others have been detained over alleged weapons, drugs, threats and criminal damage offences. One 26-year-old man has been charged with possession with intent to supply Class A and Class B drugs and possessing criminal property.

Some of those arrested have been released on bail, while others remain in custody.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct is separately investigating the circumstances surrounding the police pursuit. Cleveland Police referred the incident to the watchdog following the deaths.

The IOPC said officers followed the Passat for almost seven minutes before the pursuit was abandoned after the vehicle entered the A66 travelling against the direction of traffic. Around 10 seconds later, the Passat collided with the police car.

The deaths of the two officers have prompted an outpouring of grief across the region. Tributes have been left at the crash scene, while flags at Cleveland Police headquarters have been lowered to half-mast.

An appeal supporting the families of PC Blades and PC Clough has raised more than £500,000.

PC Blades' family described him as a dedicated officer who died protecting others. Before joining the police, he worked as an English teacher at Carmel College in Darlington.

PC Clough, a former soldier, was remembered by his family as a hero who was always ready to help others.

The investigation remains ongoing as detectives work to establish the full chain of events that led to one of the region's most serious road tragedies in recent years.