TWO hero police officers were killed in a split-second horror when a car packed with five young men came racing the wrong way down the A66.
The VW Passat smashed head-on into their patrol car, killing PC Matthew Blades, 37, and PC Tom Clough, 38, in the early hours of Saturday.
PC Matthew Blades’ (pictured) wife has paid a touching tribute to her husband Credit: Cleveland Police
PC Tom Clough tragically died in the horror collision Credit: PA
The five men in the Passat also died in the devastating collision in Middlesborough – as cops continue to investigate the moments leading to the fatal smash.
They were named as Michael Robert Cahill, 23, Theo Rae, 17, Cole Robert Worthy, 17, Jacob Matusiak, 23, and Makai Saddington, 18.
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Cleveland Police believes the Passat was being driven with cloned number plates and had been linked to several suspicious incidents.
And just moments before the horrifying fatal smash, officers had been chasing the car in a highspeed pursuit for seven minutes through residential streets.
WIFE’S AGONY
Heartbroken wife of cop killed in smash by ‘joyriders’ pays emotional tribute
TRAGIC SMASH
Cops halted chase of five ‘joyriders’ 10 seconds before they hit police car
Footage showed police cars pursuing a suspect down a residential street just minutes before the tragedy Credit: Supplied
Ring doorbell footage captured it being driven at speed through streets in Middlesbrough at around 3.36am.
Then came the crucial moment.
Cops called off the pursuit when the Passat went on to the A66 because it had begun travelling the wrong way down the road.
But just ten seconds later, the car slammed into a different marked police vehicle travelling correctly on the A66.
That armed-response car was not involved in the original pursuit.
PC Blades and PC Clough were inside, having been sent to the area to help search for the Passat after its plates triggered an ANPR camera.
At around 3.39am, the VW suddenly came hurtling into their path.
There was nothing the officers could do – both cops and all five occupants of the Passat were pronounced dead at the scene.
Tom Clough, 38, (R) was killed in the horror crash Credit: Facebook/Peter Gibson – Delivering for Darlington
PC Matthew Blades who was also tragically killed Credit: Unknown
The devastating crash has now left two police families grieving officers who had gone to work to protect others.
PC Blades was a husband and father-of-two who had recently taken on a new role coaching Seaton Carew FC.
He was preparing to coach the club’s under-sevens team, where his own son plays.
His wife has paid a heartbreaking tribute to her “beloved husband”, “best friend” and “the most devoted father to our two young boys”.
She said: “No words will ever feel like the right words to honour our Matt — my beloved husband, my best friend, and the most devoted father to our two young boys.”
She said he was an “adored son and brother”, a “perfect son-in-law” and “the most fun uncle”.
She added: “He gave his life in the line of duty, protecting and serving others with courage, dedication and selflessness.”
His wife said their two sons would grow up knowing “what an incredible father he was and will always be”.
All occupants of the two cars were declared dead at the scene Credit: PA
A police officers lays flowers at the scene Credit: NNP
She said his greatest legacy would be “the love he gave to his family”.
She also thanked the emergency services and police colleagues who had supported the family through “the most difficult time of our lives”.
She ended her tribute: “Forever loved. Forever missed. Forever our superhero. Our Matt and Dad.”
Seaton Carew FC also paid tribute to the popular dad.
The club said: “He was looking forward to being part of the team and, most importantly, to coaching his own son, who is going to be playing for the Seahawks this season.
“Matty and his oldest son are much-loved members of our club and our U10 Lions football family.”
PC Clough, 38, had previously served with the British Transport Police and was also a former soldier.
His family described him as their “hero” and a man with a “fantastic” sense of humour who would always jump into action when needed.
Jacob Matusiak, 23, was one of the passengers in the Passat Credit: Facebook/Jakub Hewitt
Close friends Theo Rae, 17, (left) and Cole Worthy, 17, both died in the crash Credit: Facebook/Theo Rae
They said: “He was our hero with a fantastic of humour. Jumped into action whenever needed, and willing to help anyone for any reason.
“Proudly fought for his country to make the world a better place. Always on public duty throughout his short life.”
They added: “We as a family and Tom’s partner would like to express our sincere gratitude for the overwhelming support and condolences from friends, colleagues and the wider community.”
A friend said: “He was a genuine, caring, decent man. If he could have, he would have apprehended the lads in the car and he would have tried to help them, that’s the way he saw his job in the army and in the police force.”
The friend added: “It’s taking a long time to sink in that he’s gone having lived only half his life, it’s so unfair and I feel for his partner and family so much.”
The five young men who died in the Passat have also been mourned by relatives and friends.
Saddington’s social media activity has since come under scrutiny, with clips appearing to show him taking part in high-speed police chases months before the crash.
In one video filmed in May, he is seen as a passenger in an Audi being driven at speed through a housing estate while a police car follows with its blue lights flashing.
Makai Saddington, 18, previously posted a video of him involved in a high-speed chase Credit: Facebook/Makai Saddington
Michael Cahill, 23, died in the crash which also killed two police officers Credit: Facebook/Michael Ray
The Audi then appears to veer across a grassy playing field in an apparent attempt to escape the pursuing officers.
Another clip associated with Saddington shows a green Nissan being driven around before being set alight.
Separate images show him and a friend posing in cars while wearing black balaclavas.
The footage has emerged amid concerns over a wider trend of young men filming police pursuits and posting the clips online for views and likes.
It comes just days after five teenagers died in a separate wrong-way motorway smash in Ireland.
In that case, teenagers in a stolen BMW were travelling the wrong way down the M9 in County Kildare after police tried to stop them.
The BMW smashed into a Hyundai carrying innocent members of a family, leaving three sisters and a seven-year-old boy seriously injured.
The A66 tragedy has prompted fears that the same dangerous craze could be spreading.
Gardai were instructed not to pursue the teens after the car they were travelling in entered the M9 motorway on the wrong side of the road
A video claims to show a garda patrol car pursuing the teenagers on the night of the crash on the M9
Householders living around a mile from the crash site described hearing the Passat being driven at terrifying speed shortly before the fatal smash.
Neil Hutchison, 47, said: “You could tell from the noise that they were travelling at high speed.
“Two cars went down the street and then a few seconds later there was a third, they were obviously going after another vehicle. It’s tragic that it ended with people dead.”
Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner Matt Storey said the force was a “really tight-knit family” and warned the deaths would “have a big impact on them”.
Redcar MP Anna Turley said: “They went to work to keep people safe, and they should have come home to their families.
“Their loss will be felt deeply by their loved ones, fellow officers and right across the communities they served.”
The Independent Office for Police Conduct has opened an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the fatal crash.
As the investigation continues, the devastating sequence of events shows how a police chase lasting minutes ended in a split-second collision that claimed seven lives.
