Police officer’s wife pays tribute to ‘superhero’ husband killed in crash with car driving wrong way down A66
The wife of a police officer who was killed when a car driving the wrong way down the A66 crashed into a police vehicle has paid tribute to her ‘superhero’ husband.
PC Matthew Blades, 37, was killed alongside PC Tom Clough, 38, when a Volkswagen Passat, that was being pursued by police, hit an armed response vehicle in Teesside in the early hours of Saturday (22 August) morning.
Five males aged between 17 and 23 who were travelling in the Volkswagen were also killed.
They have since been identified as Michael Robert Cahill, 23, Theo Rae, 17, Cole Robert Worthy, 16, Jacob Matusiak, 23, and Makai Saddington, 18.
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Flowers, balloons and other tributes have been laid out at the site.
In the wake of the tragedy, PC Blade’s wife has issued a heartbreaking statement in which she said he ‘gave his life in the line of duty’.
The statement, which was shared through Cleveland Police read: “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.
“He was an adored son and brother, a perfect son-in-law, and the most fun uncle.
“He was loved beyond words by all his family and friends, and his loss has left a space that can never be filled.
“He gave his life in the line of duty, protecting and serving others with courage, dedication and selflessness.
“The pain of losing him is beyond words, and our lives will never be the same. Neither will the love he gave us ever fade.
“Our children will grow up knowing what an incredible father he was and will always be, and I will carry his love, his memory and everything we shared with me always.”
She added: “Forever loved. Forever missed. Forever our superhero. Our Matt and Dad.”
The incident has been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which said on Sunday that PC Blades and PC Clough were not involved in the original pursuit, but had been called to the area to assist with the search for the Passat.
Cleveland Police had received intelligence relating to 'numerous incidents' linked to a Passat, the watchdog said in its description of events.
The vehicle, containing the five occupants and believed to have been using cloned plates, was spotted, as the plates had activated an ANPR camera.
PC Clough's family pay tribute to 'hero'
Earlier today (23 August), PC Clough’s family paid tribute to the husband and father-of-two.
"He was our hero with a fantastic of humour. Jumped into action whenever needed, and willing to help anyone for any reason,” the statement read.
"Proudly fought for his country to make the world a better place. Always on public duty throughout his short life.
"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."
Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner Matt Storey urged the public to avoid online speculation amid the official probe.
Storey said: "The IOPC will do their work, the force will do their work, and that will give an official view of what’s happened. Social media can be quite dangerous when rumours get spread around, and we need to make sure that the information is correct."
He also paid tribute to the two officers who lost their lives while describing the force as a 'really tight-knit family' and saying that the incident 'will have a big impact on them'.
A GoFundMe has been launched in honour of PC Blades and PC Clough, with the money raised going towards the families of both officers to 'assist them in any way as they try to navigate this traumatic time'.
At the time of writing it had raised £175,570 of a £200,000 target.
Topics: UK News
Claire Reid