Tributes have poured in for two “brave” police officers who died in a crash on the A66 in Teesside that killed five others on Saturday morning.Pc Matthew Blades, 37, and Pc Tom Clough, 38, were killed when a Volkswagen Passat that was travelling the wrong way down the A66 collided with a police vehicle on the same road going in the right direction, Cleveland Police said.The families of the five people who were travelling in the Volkswagen are being supported by officers, although they have not yet been named.The police watchdog the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) confirmed it has launched an investigation into the fatal crash.Cleveland Police Chief Constable Victoria Fuller said: “These were brave officers protecting our communities and serving our residents who didn’t return home to their families at the end of their shift.”Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he was “devastated” to hear about the crash, while Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said her thoughts were with all those affected.What we do not know about the crashWe don’t know...Who the five people travelling in the Passat were. Cleveland Police said on Saturday that the families of the five people travelling in the Volkswagen have been informed and are being supported by officers.What specifically triggered the pursuit of the Passat, and why officers had marked the vehicle as suspicious.For how long the Volkswagen was being pursued and where exactly it travelled.Why the vehicle Pc Blades and Pc Clough were travelling in was on the A66 at the time of the crash.Rebecca Whittaker23 August 2026 10:20Tributes paid to two ‘brave’ police officers killed in A66 crashTributes have poured in for two “brave” police officers who died in a crash on the A66 in Teesside that killed five others on Saturday morning.Pc Matthew Blades, 37, and Pc Tom Clough, 38, were killed when a Volkswagen Passat that was travelling the wrong way down the dual carriageway near Middlesbrough collided with their marked armed response vehicle that was going in the right direction.In a statement to reporters on Saturday afternoon, Cleveland Police Chief Constable Victoria Fuller said: “These were brave officers protecting our communities and serving our residents who didn’t return home to their families at the end of their shift.”Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he was “devastated” to hear about the crash, while Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said her thoughts were with all those affected.Rebecca Whittaker23 August 2026 10:07All we know about A66 crash that killed seven as police officers who died in pursuit are namedSeven people have died, including two police officers, in a car crash following a chase in the early hours of Saturday morning.The two officers have been named as PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough, Cleveland police chief constable Victoria Fuller said at a press conference.Rebecca Whittaker23 August 2026 10:05Rebecca Whittaker23 August 2026 10:04People inside the Volkswagen have been formally identified, police sayCleveland Police Chief Constable Victoria Fuller said the members of the public inside the Volkswagen have been formally identified.She said: “Formal identification has now taken place for the occupants of the Volkswagen Passat and specialist family liaison officers are being deployed to support the bereaved families, we also have support in place for our officers and staff who have been affected by today’s tragic events.“As is mandatory following any death connected to a police incident, we have referred the matter to the Independent Office for Police Conduct and are fully co-operating with their investigation.“Whilst this investigation is ongoing, and out of respect for all those who have lost loved ones, I would strongly urge people to avoid speculation and respect the privacy of the families.”(PA)Rebecca Whittaker23 August 2026 10:03Pictured: Police officers at the scene of the fatal A66 crash Police officers at the scene of the fatal crash involving a police car and a Volkswagen Passat on the A66 (Owen Humphreys/PA) (PA Wire)(PA)A police officer at the scene of a fatal crash involving a police car and a Volkswagen Passat on the A66 in South Bank, near Middlesbrough (PA)Rebecca Whittaker23 August 2026 10:02Everything we know so far about the A66 crashSeven people have died, including two police officers, in a car crash following a chase in the early hours of Saturday morning.Pc Matthew Blades, 37, and Pc Tom Clough, 38, were killed when a Volkswagen Passat that was travelling the wrong way down the dual carriageway near Middlesbrough collided with their marked armed response vehicle that was going in the right direction.Officers began following the car in South Bank, near Middlesbrough in Teesside before colliding with the car at 3.39am. The A66 was closed in both directions between Normanby Road and Church Lane in Eston as a result of the crash.The families of the five people who were travelling in the Volkswagen are being supported by officers, Cleveland Police said on Saturday, although they have not yet been named.The police watchdog the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) confirmed it has launched an investigation into the fatal crash.Rebecca Whittaker23 August 2026 09:43