Initial Investigation Finds No Evidence of Tactical Contact or Stinger Use Before A66 Crash
An initial inquiry by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) into the A66 crash, which resulted in the deaths of five young men and two police officers, has determined that there was no evidence of tactical contact or the deployment of a stinger prior to the collision.
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According to an initial investigation reported by BBC UK, no evidence of the use of a stinger or any 'tactical contact' was discovered before the crash on the A66, which resulted in the fatalities of two police officers and five young men.
The incident involved a collision between a marked Cleveland Police vehicle and a Volkswagen Passat near South Bank, Middlesbrough, on August 22, following a police pursuit that was subsequently abandoned. The IOPC's preliminary investigation indicated that there was no evidence to suggest the police had initiated contact with the Passat.
PC Matthew Blades, aged 37, and PC Tom Clough, aged 38, were killed in the crash. The five individuals inside the Passat were identified as Michael Robert Cahill, 23, Jakub Matusiak, 23, Makai Saddington, 18, and 17-year-olds Theo Rae and Cole Robert Worthy.
The IOPC stated that the pursuit commenced at 03:33 BST. Approximately six minutes and 12 seconds later, the Passat slowed down as it neared the A66, turned right, and proceeded in the opposite direction on the dual carriageway. The watchdog noted that the pursuing police driver did not follow the Passat along the wrong carriageway; instead, the driver turned off the blue warning lights and proceeded along the A66 on the correct side of the road. The Passat subsequently collided with the vehicle carrying PC Clough and PC Blades about 17 seconds later.
A forensic collision investigator is currently working to determine the speed of both vehicles at the moment of impact.
Emily Barry, the director of engagement, stated that the IOPC expects its full investigation to take several months due to the volume of information that needs to be reviewed. She acknowledged the devastating and long-lasting effect the incident has had on the families, the force, the policing community, and the broader local community. Barry also mentioned that while there is speculation regarding how the collision occurred, there is no indication that the collision resulted from any direct police contact, nor was a stinger used by the police in an effort to stop the Passat. A stinger is defined as a portable spike strip designed to puncture a vehicle's tires.
The IOPC has commissioned two expert reports: one to examine the collision reconstruction and another to assess the policies and procedures applicable to officers during pursuits.
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