Funeral for PC Matthew Blades: Killed in Middlesbrough A66 Crash
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Funeral Details
The funeral of PC Matthew Blades, one of two police officers killed in a crash on the A66 near Middlesbrough, will take place later.
Road Closures:
Road closures will be in place in Hartlepool for PC Blades’ funeral from 07:30 BST to accommodate a full police ceremonial funeral.
Tributes
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Lauren Somerville, Cleveland Police Federation chair, described PC Blades as a "best friend, a husband, a father, a brother and a son." She added that his laughter and silly jokes brought light and laughter into every room.
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PC Blades had previously been an English teacher at Carmel College in Darlington, where he was remembered as an "intelligent, kind and approachable teacher."
Crash Details (as per the text)
- PC Blades and PC Tom Clough died when a Volkswagen Passat collided with their marked armed response car on the A66 at South Bank, near Middlesbrough, on 22 August.
- Five young men, including Cole Worthy, Theo Rae, Makai Saddington, Michael Cahill, and Jakub Matusiak, also lost their lives.
- The officers were pursuing the Passat, which was connected to alleged criminal activity, when the crash occurred. The pursuit was abandoned 10 seconds before the collision.
