Tactical contact not used by police before A66 crash that killed seven, watchdog says

A stinger device and tactical contact were not used by police moments before seven men were killed, including two officers, by a vehicle being driven the wrong way down a dual carriageway, a watchdog found.

An investigation into the head-on collision on the A66 near Middlesbrough last month found no evidence of deliberate contact, or the use of a stinger, before the crash, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said.

The crash between a Volkswagen Passat and a marked Cleveland Police vehicle happened at South Bank at 3.39am on 22 August, and followed a police pursuit which was abandoned.

PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough, who had not been following the Passat, were killed in the collision

Michael Cahill, Theo Rae, Cole Worthy, Jakub Matusiak and Makai Saddington were in the VW.

According to the IOPC, the pursuit began at 3.33am, and, six minutes later, the Passat slowed as it approached the A66 and headed the wrong way down the dual carriageway.

The pursuing police driver did not follow the Passat along the wrong carriageway, and instead drove along the A66 on the right side of the road, the IOPC said.

Both cars collided around 17 seconds later, and there was no evidence the police initiated contact, the body added.

IOPC Director of Engagement Emily Barry said: "It's important to acknowledge that due to the vast amount of information to be reviewed, analysed and verified, along with the expert reports that have been commissioned to support our investigation, we anticipate it will take months, rather than weeks, to conclude our investigation.

"We have ensured that all families have been made aware of our involvement and they will be provided with regular updates throughout.

"We are aware there is speculation regarding how the collision occurred. There is no suggestion the collision was a result of any direct police contact, nor was a stinger used by the police in an attempt to stop the Passat."

The IOPC has commissioned two reports, one of which will analyse a reconstruction of the collision. The other will assess policies and procedures which are currently in place for police officers during pursuits.

A forensic collision investigator is still determining the speed of both vehicles at the time of the collision.

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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 previously stated that the five men in the Passat may have had links to "serious and organised criminal activity", and four of them had previous convictions.

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