Football Fans Pay Tribute to Crash Death Officers
BBC Homepage
Skip to content
Accessibility Help
Home
News
Sport
Earth
Reel
Worklife
Travel
Culture
Future
Music
TV
Weather
Sounds
More menu
BBC News
Menu
Home
Climate
World
UK
Business
Tech
Science
Entertainment & Arts
Health
In Pictures
BBC Verify
Newsbeat
England
Regions
Tees
Football fans and players have paid tribute to PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough, who were killed in a crash on the A66 near Middlesbrough.
Image source: PA Media
The officers died in a head-on collision with a vehicle going the wrong way, as did five people in that vehicle. Middlesbrough and West Bromwich Albion players observed a minute’s silence before their Championship match at Riverside Stadium, with pictures of the two men displayed on a screen.
Hartlepool United also held a two-minute silence before their home National League game against Eastleigh.
Middlesbrough FC issued this statement prior to the match:
"We are also showing our appreciation for the dedication and hard work of both men, and to Cleveland Police force in protecting and supporting our local community."
Image source: Cleveland Police
Earlier this week, 17 people were arrested in connection with the crash investigation, bringing the total number of arrests to 24.
The occupants of the other vehicle – Michael Robert Cahill, Jacob Matusiak, Makai Saddington, Theo Rae, and Cole Robert Worthy – also died.
Middlesbrough mayor Chris Cooke spoke about the challenges facing Cleveland Police on Radio 4’s Today programme, highlighting their "over 10 per cent reduction in FTE (full-time equivalent) of police officers," while other areas have seen increases. He called for funding to "follow need."
Follow BBC Tees on:
- X, Facebook, Nextdoor, Instagram
- Listen to Radio Tees on BBC Sounds
Get in touch with BBC Tees
