A stolen car which ploughed head on into a police patrol vehicle killing seven people had been driving erratically at high speed chasing a rival gang as part of a violent feud, it was claimed today. The resulting crash on the A66 killed two police officers as well as all five occupants of a stolen VW Passat, including Cole Worthy, 17. Now the Daily Mail can reveal that the chase was allegedly sparked by a rival gang using a Volvo XC60 to ram into the home of Cole Worthy's father at 3am on Saturday – just 40 minutes before the devastating smash.It is understood that in the early hours of Saturday, the house belonging to Gye Worthy was rammed twice by the Volvo, which deliberately reversed into the front window, causing extensive damage. Within minutes, a VW Passat containing his son Cole and four young friends was racing around the streets of Middlesbrough in pursuit of the Volvo involved in the attack.The Passat was later spotted by a police patrol, resulting in the horrific crash that killed PC Tom Clough, 38, and PC Matthew Blades, 37.Reports of the crash have until now described the youths involved as 'joyriders', but it now appears they were out for violent revenge rather than thrill seeking.The Mail understands that the occupants of the Volvo and the Passat belonged to rival gangs operating as part of an organised criminal network across Teesside.There is no suggestion that Cole's father, Gye Worthy, 39, was involved in any criminal activity, but it appears the attack on his house was the flashpoint that led to the fatal crash. The chase was allegedly sparked by a rival gang using a Volvo XC60 to ram into the home of Cole Worthy's father (pictured) at 3am on Saturday Gye Worthy with his son Cole Worthy, who died in the crash on the A66. A neighbour said Mr Worthy senior led a 'normal life' and there is no suggestion he was involved in criminal activity Scores of people yesterday held orange flares aloft in a field in South Bank, Middlesborough, to mark the deaths of the five joyriders