Two police officers killed in wrong-way crash died from head and neck injuries

| Live News Reporter Published August 27, 2026 11:25am Updated August 27, 2026 11:25am PC Tom Clough (left) and PC Matthew Blades (right) lost their lives (Picture: PA) Two police officers died from head and neck injuries after their marked vehicle was hit by a car going the wrong way down a dual carriageway, an inquest opening has heard. PC Matthew Blades, 37, and PC Tom Clough, 38, died in a head-on collision on the A66 near Middlesbrough on Saturday. Today, inquests into their deaths were opened and adjourned at Teesside Coroner’s Court. In short hearings, coroner Paul Appleton said PC Blades was identified by his wife, and PC Clough by his partner. The provisional cause of death was said to be head and neck injuries for PC Blades, and neck injuries for PC Clough. Sign up for all of the latest stories Start your day informed with Metro's News Updates newsletter or get Breaking News alerts the moment it happens. Mr Appleton said that in the early hours of August 22 there was a collision on the A66 at South Bank between a police vehicle and a Volkswagen Passat. He told the hearing that ‘all occupants of both vehicles were sadly pronounced dead at the scene’. Mr Appleton said: ‘At this stage it is understood that there had been a police pursuit of the Volkswagen Passat. ‘It entered the A66 carriageway against the flow of traffic, at which stage the pursuit was aborted. ‘A short time after … the Volkswagen Passat collided with a police vehicle, which had not been directly involved in the prior pursuit.’ Later today, inquests will open into the deaths of Cole Worthy, 17, Theo Rae, 17, Makai Saddington, 18, and 23-year-olds Michael Robert Cahill and Jacob Matusiak – who were in the Passat and pronounced dead at the scene. Arrow MORE: Son stole £50,000 from his own dad and spent it on Greggs and OnlyFans Arrow MORE: Families of Lockerbie bombing victims speak out after trial postponed Arrow MORE: Stowaway found frozen to death in plane landing gear at Gatwick Airport News Updates Stay on top of the headlines with daily email updates.