Seven people killed including two officers in wrong-way crash on major A-road
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Up Next Previous Page Next Page Seven people – including two officers – have died after a car travelling the wrong way down a major A-road crashed into a police car in North Yorkshire. Two serving officers in a marked vehicle and five others in a Volkswagen Passat were all declared dead at the scene on the A66 near Middlesbrough shortly before 4am today.
Police are still working to formally identify all occupants of the Volkswagen Passat but have informed the families of those identified and offered them specialist support. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) opened an investigation into the circumstances leading to the crash in South Bank after a mandatory referral from the force.
A forensic crash investigation continues on the A66 after the collision following a police pursuit (Picture: North News & Pictures Ltd) Police officers are understood to have spotted a suspicious vehicle, leading to a pursuit, the watchdog said. In an updated statement, the police said: ‘Cleveland Police can confirm that seven people have died as a result of a collision in South Bank at 3.39am this morning.
‘This includes two serving Cleveland Police officers who were in a marked police vehicle and five members of the public who were travelling in a Volkswagen Passat. The A66 is expected to remain closed for some time (Picture: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire) ‘The Passat was travelling the wrong way along the A66 and collided with a police vehicle that was travelling on the same road in the right direction.
‘Sadly, all occupants of both vehicles were pronounced dead at the scene. ‘The families of those identified have been informed and are being offered specialist support.’ A devastating incident in Teesside this morning in which seven people have died, including two police officers. Cleveland police have my support as they work to identify all those involved. Police officers put their own safety on the line to protect their communities every…— Shabana Mahmood MP (@ShabanaMahmood) August 22, 2026
The circumstances of the fatal crash are under investigation (Picture: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire) Anna Turley, MP for the Redcar constituency where the crash happened said: ‘Cleveland Police have confirmed that seven people have sadly lost their lives. ‘Their families and loved ones are now facing an unimaginable loss that will be felt forever.
‘Two of the seven people who have lost their lives were Cleveland Police officers, on duty serving our community. A stretch of the A66 in South Bank, Middlesbrough, remains cordoned off after the fatal crash in the early hours of the morning (Picture: BACKGRID) ‘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. Timeline of the A66 crash The IOPC said the car travelled on the A66 in South Bank and ‘collided with a police car at 3.39am.’ It then declared an independent investigation at 6.03am following a mandatory referral from Cleveland Police.
Nicola Marfleet, IOPC’s director of investigations, said: ‘This is a tragic incident, and my thoughts are with family and friends and all those affected, including the emergency services in attendance. ‘Our investigation is in the very early stages, we have sent investigators to the post incident procedures to begin reviewing evidence.
‘When someone dies following police contact, it is mandatory that the matter is referred to the IOPC. Our role is to establish and examine the circumstances of what happened; this work is already underway, and Cleveland Police is cooperating with our enquiries. We will provide a further update when we are in a position to do so.’
The fatal collision on the A66 involved two vehicles (Picture: BACKGRID) ‘Cleveland Police are investigating the accident, alongside the Independent Office for Police Conduct. ‘It is crucial that we respect that process and avoid speculation at this deeply painful time. ‘I cannot begin to imagine how difficult this has been for the emergency services responding to such a devastating incident.’
Chief Constable Victoria Fuller, of Cleveland Police, said the force would co-operate fully with the investigation. ‘While this investigation takes place, we strongly urge people to avoid speculation,’ she said. A police officer at the scene of the crash on the A66 today (Picture: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire)
Seven people succumbed to their injuries at the scene of the crash on the A66 (Picture: North News & Pictures Ltd) The ambulance service said it was alerted to a two-vehicle crash, and it dispatched 14 units, including ambulance crews, a specialist paramedic, a doctor from Great North Air Ambulance and a hazardous response team. The fire brigade is also at the scene.
North East Ambulance Service said: ‘Sadly, despite the best efforts of everyone attending, a number of patients died at the scene. ‘We send condolences to all of those affected by such a tragic event and thank everyone for all they did to help.’ Adam Brook, a councillor with Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, said on social media: ‘Very sad news this morning following a serious collision on the A66 involving a car and a police vehicle, which has tragically resulted in multiple fatalities.