More than £1million raised in three days for families of police heroes killed in A66 crash - as cop fund receives 48,000 donations from kind-hearted Britons

Donations to the families of two police officers killed by a gang driving the wrong way down the A66 in a stolen car have topped £1million. PCs Matthew Blades, 37, and Tom Clough, 38, died alongside the five occupants of a VW Passat in the head-on smash in the early hours of Saturday morning. Cleveland Police set up a GoFundMe appeal on Sunday to raise money for the officers' grieving families, with the funds raised already topping seven figures. Meanwhile, a separate appeal established by Pocket Sergeant, has so far gathered another £48,000.The force's accompanying tribute reads: 'PC Matt Blades and PC Tom Clough were both dedicated and committed Police Officers who left their families and went to work to serve their community and protect the public.'Tragedy struck these two brave Cleveland Police colleagues in the early hours of 22nd August 2026 - and they paid the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.'The five young men who died in the Passat were named as Michael Robert Cahill, 23, Theo Rae, 17, Cole Robert Worthy, 17, Jakub Matusiak, 23, and Makai Saddington, 18. PC Matthew Blades, a father of two, was killed when his police vehicle was struck head-on by a Volkswagen Passat travelling the wrong way down the A66 near Middlesbrough PC Tom Clough also died in the crash, which occurred around 10 seconds after a police pursuit of the Volkswagen had been called offThe group had been involved in a police pursuit prior to the crash with two police cars chasing their 'suspicious' vehicle. Yesterday, the Daily Mail revealed the chase was allegedly sparked by a rival gang, who used a Volvo XC60 to ram into the home of Cole's father at 3am on Saturday – just 40 minutes before the devastating smash.It is understood that the house belonging to Gye Worthy was rammed twice by the Volvo, which deliberately reversed into the front window, causing extensive damage.Within minutes, the VW Passat with his son Cole and four friends inside was racing around the streets of Middlesbrough in pursuit of the Volvo.It was separately revealed that four of the youngsters killed in the Passat had extensive criminal records – 37 convictions among them – including for drug offences, assault and robbery.Cleveland Police have concluded that Saturday's disaster may have been a symptom of a wave of organised crime plaguing Teesside.Cleveland Police yesterday confirmed arrests including a 16-year-old boy as well as four men aged 18, 21, 23 and 55 – taking the total number detained up to 17.The five people arrested on Tuesday were:A 16-year-old boy on suspicion of participating in an organised crime group;An 18-year-old man on suspicion of participating in an organised crime group;A 21-year-old man on suspicion of participating in an organised crime group;A 55-year-old man on suspicion of assisting an offender;A 23-year-old man on suspicion of threats to kill.The 12 people previously detained included four held on suspicion of participating in an organised crime group and four on suspicion of possessing a firearm. Makai Saddington, one of the five killed in the Volkswagen, posted videos on TikTok of him being chased by police and was awaiting trial for racially abusing and assaulting officers Close friends Theo Rae (left) and Cole Robert Worthy both died in the crash on Saturday Michael Robert Cahill was one of the five in the VWFour of the suspects are also accused of possessing Class A and B drugs with intent to supply.Cleveland Police said two of the 12 previously arrested have now appeared in court.Kai Beattie, 19, of Foxrush Court, Redcar, appeared before Teesside Magistrates' Court charged with possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, according to the force.Cameron George, 26, of Micklow Close, Redcar, was remanded in custody to appear at Teesside Crown Court on September 21 charged with drugs offences and possession of criminal property, it said.The chain of events that led to the deaths of the two officers, as well as the five occupants of the car, began in the well-to-do Middlesbrough suburb of Acklam, on a usually quiet street of post-war semis.A neighbour said: 'The huge bang woke everyone up and it was then followed by a second.'Whatever happened was quick because, by the time my husband looked out of the window, the car was gone, but there was very bad damage to the house.'One neighbour of the Worthys said Cole's father had lived at the address for around ten years and led 'a normal life'. He is listed at Companies House as the director of a private limited company called Worthylift Ltd, which was incorporated in July this year.A source told the Mail: 'After the attack on his father's house, Cole Worthy and his mates were out in the VW Passat looking for whoever had done this.'There have been a series of houses rammed in Middlesbrough in the last few months and it's all part of a feud between rival criminal factions.'When they fight among themselves it is one thing, but when innocent lives like those of two police officers are lost, that's completely another.'Cleveland Police has confirmed both the Volvo and VW Passat formed part of their enquiries in the early hours of August 22.Mr Worthy's home was rammed at about 3am. By 3.36am, the VW Passat was caught on CCTV racing at between 80 and 100mph down Lime Road in Teesville, pursued by three police vehicles.At 3.39am, it turned the wrong way on to the A66 dual carriageway, at which point the pursuing police vehicles stopped.Just ten seconds later, it smashed head-on into the armed response vehicle carrying PCs Clough and Blades.A spokesman for Cleveland Police said: 'On the morning of Saturday 22 August, Cleveland Police received several reports of two vehicles being driven dangerously.'The first vehicle, which is believed to be a Volvo XC60, was witnessed ramming properties in the Middlesbrough area.'Both vehicles were operating with cloned number plates to avoid detection but were picked up by the force's automated number plate recognition technology.'The Volvo XC60 involved in the initial reports has been traced and recovered in Middlesbrough as part of the criminal investigation.'Throughout the course of the weekend, Cleveland Police, supported by officers and staff from Durham, Northumbria and North Yorkshire Police, have worked tirelessly to establish the circumstances that led to the fatal collision.'Those enquiries have resulted in the arrests of 12 people across Teesside.'