Posted Sun 23 Aug 2026 at 12:22amSun 23 Aug 2026 at 12:22amAll seven people in both vehicles were pronounced dead at the scene. (Supplied via AP)Seven people, including two police officers, have died in a head-on collision in the north-east of England following a pursuit.Police from Cleveland, Yorkshire - roughly 420kms north of London - said a Volkswagen Passat carrying five passengers was travelling the wrong way down the A66 highway near Middlesbrough when it collided head-on with a police vehicle.All occupants of the Volkswagen and two police officers declared dead at the scene.The police force said it was still investigating the circumstances of the crash and was working to formally identify all the people killed. The families of those already identified have been informed and are being offered specialist support, police said."This tragic incident will be felt across Cleveland, within our communities and throughout the entire policing family," said Cleveland Police Chief Constable Victoria Fuller.Local politician Anna Turley said Cleveland Police were investigating the incident, alongside the Independent Office for Police Conduct."It is crucial that we respect that process and avoid speculation at this deeply painful time," Ms Turley said.The fatal crash follows two recent head-on crashes near Dublin, one of which killed five people. Ireland's police chief this week warned that some young people were driving the wrong way on the motorway "for social media likes".An Irish parliament committee has asked short-form video platform TikTok to explain how it removes content "that appears to glorify dangerous and illegal behaviour on our roads". Ireland's media regulator made a similar request.AP/Reuters