A stolen car which ploughed head-on into a police patrol vehicle and killed seven had been chasing a rival gang as part of a violent feud, it was claimed today. The crash on the A66 killed two police officers as well as all five occupants of a stolen VW Passat, including 17-year-old Cole Worthy. Now the Daily Mail can reveal that the chase was allegedly sparked by a rival gang, who used a Volvo XC60 to ram into the home of Cole's father at 3am on Saturday – just 40 minutes before the devastating smash.It is understood that the house belonging to Gye Worthy was rammed twice by the Volvo, which deliberately reversed into the front window, causing extensive damage. Within minutes, the VW Passat with his son Cole and four friends inside was racing around the streets of Middlesbrough in pursuit of the Volvo.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.The five occupants of the stolen car – Worthy, Makai Saddington, 18, Jakub Matusiak, 23, Theo Rae, 17, and Michael Cahill, 23 – were also killed.Reports of the crash have until now described the youths involved as 'joyriders', but it now appears they were out for 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, 39, was involved in any criminal activity. The attack on his home, however, appears to be 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 at 3am on Saturday. Pictured: The extent of the damage to the property Gye Worthy with his son Cole, who died in the crash on the A66. A neighbour said Mr Worthy led a 'normal life' and there is no suggestion he was involved in criminal activity Scores of people held orange flares aloft in a field in South Bank, Middlesbrough, to mark the deaths of the five youths yesterday evening