Five people who died in police crash identified after driving 'wrong way' down A66

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Two police officers were killed in the crash, who were not involved in the pursuit as the five men drove the wrong way up an A-road

The five people who died in a collision with a police car have been named by police after driving the "wrong way" down the A66 near Middlesbrough.

Two police officers, PC Matthew Blades, 38 and PC Tom Clough, 37, were also killed in the head-on collision where a VW Passat drove the wrong way down the busy A-road.

The two officers and five men were pronounced dead at the scene after colliding in the early hours of yesterday morning near South Bank.

The five people were identified as Michael Ray, 23, Theo Rae, 17, Cole Worthy, 16, Jakub Matusiak, 23, and Makai Saddington, 18.

Mr Saddington had posted a number of TikTok videos, with him appearing to be involved in high-speed police chases in the months leading to his death.

He and the other four dead men are understood to have links with the traveller community, the Daily Mail reports.

At 3.39am yesterday morning, a VW Passat was involved in a multiple police car pursuit after the force began chasing a "suspicious vehicle".

Ring doorbell footage at 3.36am shows the pursuit going through residential streets, before police stopped chasing the car when it merged on to the A66.

FACEBOOK / MICHAEL RAY, THEO RAE, DANNI HEWITT, MAKAI SADDINGTON

Three minutes later and the VW Passat collided with PC Blades and PC Clough's marked car, which was on the correct side of the A66.

It is understood the officers were not involved in the pursuit.

Cleveland Police lowered flags to half-mast at the Middlesbrough headquarters yesterday to pay respect to their colleagues.

Social media posts from the teenagers have revealed their joyriding activities leading up the fatal accident yesterday.

In one video, 18-year-old Mr Saddington can be seen driving an Audi at speed through a housing estate with a police car closely behind in pursuit.

The car then enters a grassy field in a bid to lose the police.

Another video posted by an account associated with Mr Saddington shows a green Nissan being set alight after being driven around.

In a separate post, images of the now-deceased can be seen posing in balaclavas with a friend.

This is part of what appears to be a growing social media trend of young men filming themselves being involved in police car chases.

Several days ago, five teenagers died in a head-on collision in Ireland.

The teens had been driving a stolen BMW in County Kildare at 2am last Sunday and were killed after travelling the wrong way down the M9.

After the police failed to stop the car via a stinger device, the teenagers merged on to the M9 but headed the wrong way.

It collided with another vehicle, hitting three sisters and a seven-year-old boy, who remain in hospital after suffering serious injuries.

The families and friends of the five men who died in the crash yesterday have been taking to social media to pay tribute.

Mr Saddington's one-year-old son's mother posted: "What am I supposed to do without ur daft phone alls and u torching [sic] me life's so cruel."

His aunt, Sharon Morgan, also wrote: "Today is a day I never thought I would have to face.

"I'm heartbroken to say that we lost my beloved nephew today, our Makai. There are no words that can truly express the pain of losing someone so young, so loved, and so full of life.

"You brought so much love and happiness into our family, and your memory will stay with us forever. This loss has left a space in our hearts that can never be filled.

"Rest peacefully, my beautiful nephew. You will never be forgotten. Until we meet again, fly high love ya aunty Sharon…

"Keep our family in your thoughts and prayers as we try to get through this heartbreaking time, especially our Alisha, his Mam."

Tributes have also been paid to Mr Worthy, with friends describing his death as "a massive devastation".

One wrote on social media: "Absolutely heartbroken, you are gonna be missed Cole, love u lots."

Mr Worthy was close friends with Mr Rae, who also died in the crash, with the pair having been pictured together last December and regularly interacting on each other's social media.

One tribute to Mr Rae said he had been "taken way too soon", describing him as someone with a "heart of gold" who "would have done anything for anyone".

Mr Ray was remembered online as a "lovely, down to earth lad".

The sister of Mr Matusiak said she was left "heartbroken" by the news, calling her brother her "best friend always and forever".

Another friend wrote that he would be "missed by everyone who knows you".

Chief Constable Victoria Fuller appeared visibly emotional as she described visiting the families of PC Blades and PC Clough alongside her deputy, David Felton, to offer condolences and support following "this unimaginable loss".

Paying tribute to the two officers, she 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."

She continued: "This is an incredibly sad day for Cleveland. The loss has been felt across our communities, by our police family, and by our partner agencies.

"My thoughts, and the thoughts of everybody here at Cleveland Police, are with their families, friends, colleagues, and loved ones at this incredibly difficult time."

Lauren Somerville, chairman of the Cleveland Police Federation, said: "Words cannot describe the pain the Cleveland Police family is feeling today.

"Our colleagues who should have been going home to their loved ones at the end of their shifts are not.