Ring doorbell footage appears to show police chase minutes before fatal crash that killed seven
Haunting Ring doorbell footage has appeared to show a police chase before seven people were killed in a major crash on a main road.
Seven people, including two police officers, lost their lives in the horror crash following a pursuit in the early hours of Saturday (22 August).
Police said a Volkswagen Passat had been travelling the wrong way down the A66 near Middlesbrough and collided with a police vehicle on the same road going in the right direction.
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Two serving police officers, named as Pc Matthew Blades, 37, and Pc Tom Clough, 38, in the marked vehicle and five members of the public travelling in the Passat were pronounced dead at the scene.
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.
Now, Ring doorbell footage has emerged on social media appearing to show the lead up to the collision. It showed the car speeding down Lime Road in Teesville, Middlesbrough, followed by two police cars on blue lights.
It was minutes later that the vehicle moved onto the A66 and the head-on smash occurred.
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.
The watchdog has sent investigators to the scene and say the probe is in its 'early stages'.
Officers from Cleveland Police spotted a suspicious vehicle and a pursuit began before the car travelled onto the A66 and collided with a police car, the watchdog added.
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.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he was 'devastated' to hear seven people were killed in the collision.
Anna Turley, MP for the Redcar constituency urged the public to avoid the area and use alternative routes. She 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. 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.”
Meanwhile, Cleveland Police Federation chairwoman Lauren Somerville said: “Words cannot describe the pain the Cleveland Police family are feeling today.
“Our colleagues who should have been going home to their loved ones at the end of their shifts are not. And that is just unfathomable.
“Cleveland Police Federation will be offering full support to our fallen colleagues’ families and they have all of our love and care at this time.
“When the time is right we will pay full tribute to our brave colleagues. But we can assure that their sacrifice will never be forgotten.”
Topics: UK News
James Holt