29th September, 2026 | News

No Police Contact or Stinger Used Before Fatal A66 Crash, Watchdog Finds

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has found no evidence that police used a stinger device or made tactical contact with a Volkswagen Passat moments before it collided with a marked police car on the A66 near Middlesbrough, killing seven people.

The fatal head-on collision happened at South Bank at about 3:39am on August 22, 2026, following a police pursuit that had been abandoned.

Two Cleveland Police officers, PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough, were killed in the crash, along with five men who were travelling in the Passat.

The occupants of the Volkswagen were identified as Michael Cahill, Theo Rae, Cole Worthy, Jakub Matusiak and Makai Saddington.

IOPC Finds No Evidence of Police Contact

According to the IOPC, the police pursuit began at approximately 3:33am.

About six minutes later, the Passat slowed as it approached the A66 before travelling in the wrong direction along the dual carriageway.

The pursuing police driver did not follow the vehicle onto the wrong side of the carriageway. Instead, the police vehicle continued along the A66 on the correct side of the road.

The two vehicles collided approximately 17 seconds later.

The watchdog said there was no evidence that the police vehicle made deliberate contact with the Passat before the collision.

It also found no evidence that a stinger device had been deployed to stop the vehicle.

Two Police Officers Among Seven Killed

PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough were travelling in the marked Cleveland Police vehicle when it collided with the Passat.

The officers had not been directly following the Volkswagen at the time of the crash, according to the IOPC.

The collision resulted in the deaths of all seven people involved.

The incident prompted an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the pursuit, the actions of the police and the events leading up to the fatal collision.

IOPC Investigation Could Take Months

IOPC Director of Engagement Emily Barry said the investigation remained ongoing and could take several months to complete.

She said investigators were reviewing and analysing a large amount of information and had commissioned expert reports to support the inquiry.

Barry also said the families of those who died had been informed about the IOPC’s involvement and would receive regular updates.

Addressing speculation about the circumstances of the crash, she said there was no indication that the collision resulted from direct police contact and confirmed that no stinger had been used.

Collision Reconstruction Underway

The IOPC has commissioned two reports as part of its investigation.

One report will examine a reconstruction of the collision, while the second will assess the policies and procedures governing police pursuits.

A forensic collision investigator is also working to establish the speed of both vehicles at the time of impact.

The findings will form part of the wider investigation into the events surrounding the fatal crash.

Police Pursuit Followed Vehicle Incident in Middlesbrough

Cleveland Police previously said the Passat had been pursued after a house in the Acklam area of Middlesbrough was rammed by another vehicle.

The force also said the five men travelling in the Passat might have had links to serious and organised criminal activity, while four of them were reported to have previous convictions.

Those claims form part of the wider circumstances being examined following the fatal incident.

The IOPC investigation remains ongoing, and its final findings are expected to provide further information about the pursuit, the crash and the actions of the officers involved.