Pc Tom Clough, 38, died alongside Pc Matthew Blades, 37, when a Volkswagen Passat drove against traffic on the A66 in Teesside and struck their armed response vehicle
The family of one of two officers killed when a wrong-way vehicle on the A66 dual carriageway collided with their police car have described him as “our hero” who was “always on public duty”.
Pc Tom Clough, 38, lost his life alongside Pc Matthew Blades, 37, when a Volkswagen Passat — which had been in a police pursuit — struck the marked armed response vehicle in Teesside in the early hours of Saturday.
Five males, aged between 17 and 23, travelling in the Volkswagen also perished in the collision.
In a statement released through Cleveland Police, Pc Clough’s family 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.”
The fatal incident was referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which confirmed on Sunday that neither Pc Blades nor Pc Clough had been involved in the original pursuit, but had instead been deployed to the area to assist in locating the Passat.
Cleveland Police had received intelligence connecting the Passat to “numerous incidents“, according to the watchdog’s account of events.
The vehicle, believed to have been fitted with cloned number plates and carrying five occupants, was subsequently spotted after the plates triggered an ANPR camera, the IOPC added. An armed response unit initiated a chase lasting just shy of seven minutes before the Passat entered the A66 in South Bank, travelling against oncoming traffic.
Officers halted the pursuit and maintained their course on the proper side of the road.
Approximately 10 seconds following the cessation of the chase, the Passat collided with the vehicle occupied by Pc Blades and Pc Clough.
IOPC director of engagement Derrick Campbell expressed his sympathies to those impacted, stating: “We recognise the devastating impact the incident has had on those in the force, and the wider policing community, and offer our condolences.
“We have obtained initial accounts of officers involved in the pursuit, the incident log and in-car footage of the incident.
“Work is ongoing to obtain additional material.”
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