Organised crime arrests as police investigate A66 crash that killed seven

As part of the ongoing investigation into the fatal crash on the A66 that claimed the lives of seven individuals—including two police officers—twelve people have been detained. These detainees, comprising nine men and three women aged between 19 and 61, were arrested throughout the Teesside area on suspicions ranging from firearm possession to involvement in an organized crime ring.

The incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday when a Volkswagen Passat, involved in a police pursuit, traveled in the wrong direction along the A66 near Middlesbrough. This vehicle collided head-on with a police car, resulting in the deaths of two police constables and all five passengers inside the Passat. Cleveland Police have described the event as stemming from “serious criminal activity that resulted in this fatal incident.”

Further details released by Cleveland Police outlined the circumstances leading to the collision and shed light on the individuals apprehended. According to the force, there were several reports on Saturday morning of two vehicles being driven recklessly; the first, identified as a Volvo XC60, was reportedly seen ramming into properties in Middlesbrough, while the other vehicle—a Passat—was linked to the same criminal behavior. Both cars were found to be using cloned registration plates, which were detected via automated number plate recognition technology. The Volvo has since been recovered in Middlesbrough. Additionally, four of the five passengers in the Passat had prior convictions.

Assistant Chief Constable Wayne Fox described the investigation as “fast moving and complex,” emphasizing the lasting impact of the tragedy on the local community. He stated, “The events of that tragic night will have a lasting and profound impact on the Cleveland area and the communities we seek to protect. We have a duty to respond to, and thoroughly investigate, the serious criminal activity that resulted in this fatal incident and to bring all those responsible to justice.” In response to the tragedy, a fundraiser initiated by the Cleveland Police Federation has raised over £500,000 for the officers’ families

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