A66 crash officers PC Blades and PC Clough hailed as heroes by families
Two police officers killed when a wrong-way driver slammed into their patrol car on the A66 near Middlesbrough have been described as heroes by their devastated families, who paid deeply personal tributes to the men they loved.
PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough died at the scene of the collision in the early hours of Tuesday morning. The crash happened when a car travelling in the wrong direction on the dual carriageway struck the officers’ vehicle head-on. Both men were pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the other car was taken to hospital with serious injuries.
Families speak out
PC Blades’ family released a statement describing him as “the kind of man who ran toward danger so others didn’t have to.” They said he was a devoted father of two young children and had served with Cleveland Police for nine years. “Matthew was our hero long before he put that uniform on,” the statement read. “And he’ll be our hero long after.”
PC Clough’s family were equally heartbroken. His partner described him as funny, warm, and completely dedicated to his job. He had joined the force six years ago and was known among colleagues for his calm under pressure. Still, she said, he never brought the weight of the work home. “He always walked through the door smiling,” she said.
A community in mourning
Tributes poured in from across the region throughout Tuesday. Flowers and cards were left at the entrance to Cleveland Police headquarters in Middlesbrough. Officers stood in silence at 11am. The force’s chaplain led a brief outdoor service attended by around 80 colleagues.
It’s rare for a force to lose two officers in a single incident. The last time Cleveland Police suffered a double fatality on duty was more than three decades ago.
Cleveland Police Chief Constable Mark Webster said the force was “utterly devastated” by the loss. “Matthew and Tom were outstanding officers and exceptional human beings. They died doing what they chose to do — protecting the public. We will never forget them.”
The A66 collision — what we know
The crash happened at approximately 2.40am on a stretch of the A66 between the Hemlington and Stainton interchanges. The road was closed in both directions for around seven hours while investigators worked the scene. Police have not yet confirmed the identity of the other driver or released details of their condition.
The incident has been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, which is standard procedure when officers die in circumstances connected to their duties.
What happens next
An investigation is ongoing. Cleveland Police have asked anyone who was travelling on that section of the A66 between 2am and 3am on Tuesday and who may have dashcam footage to come forward.
Both families have asked for privacy as they begin to grieve. But they also made one thing clear — they want their officers remembered not just for how they died, but for how they lived.
