A somber memorial event for one of the five young men killed in a tragic wrong-way crash on the A66 turned into a large gathering marked by flares, fireworks, and a display of motorcycles. The event, held in South Bank, near Middlesbrough, was organized to honor Jakub Matusiak, 23, who was among those who perished in the collision that also claimed the lives of two police officers. What began as a planned balloon release evolved into a more boisterous commemoration attended by approximately 200 people.
Memorial Event for A66 Crash Victim
Hundreds of orange balloons, Matusiak’s favorite color, were released into the sky as cheers erupted from the crowd. The gathering intensified with the lighting of numerous flares, casting the field in dense smoke, while a group of around 20 youths on scooters, off-road bikes, and quad bikes performed engine revs and horn blasts in tribute. Matusiak, who had prior convictions for motoring offenses, was remembered by attendees who expressed their grief and frustration with public perception of the incident.
One woman, in her 20s, voiced her indignation at the media’s portrayal of the young men responsible for the deaths of PC Tom Clough and PC Matthew Blades. She stated, “Jakub was a lovely, caring lad and he’s somebody’s son and somebody’s brother, he’s not some scumbag who should just be written off and forgotten.” She emphasized that the deaths of the police officers were a tragic accident and that the young men involved also lost their lives, asserting, “they’ve just been written off as if they don’t matter.” She added, “The number of people who have come out for Jakub today should show you that they do matter, they were loved and they will be missed.”
The memorial took place in South Bank back field, a short distance from the A66 where the fatal collision occurred. Police maintained a low-key presence, with a patrol car from the same unit as the deceased officers parked nearby, alongside a police van.
Community Reactions and Tributes
Not all local residents shared the sentiment of the memorial event. A 58-year-old grandmother, observing the police presence, remarked, “What must they be thinking right now? This is nothing but a mockery of the lives of those two policemen.” She described witnessing some attendees drinking and consuming cannabis, and riding motorbikes recklessly, stating, “There’s nothing here to celebrate.”
The nearby St John the Evangelist Church opened its doors for community members to pay respects, though it saw few visitors heading to the field. Anna Turley, the Labour MP for Redcar, attended the memorial to offer her support. She highlighted the importance of community coming together during such a devastating time, stating, “The whole community here is reeling, and we’ve lost lives, particularly those lives of brave police officers who are out in action to keep us safe. It’s a tragic incident.” She added, “The whole community, I think, needed a space to come to express that grief, to pay a tribute, particularly to those officers, and have somewhere to think and reflect and try to come to terms with the terrible incident we’ve seen on the A66.”
Turley also commented on the circumstances leading to the police presence, noting, “There’s a reason the police were out that night – to keep us safe and to protect us.” She acknowledged that further information would emerge as investigations continued, but stressed the incident highlighted significant issues within the area. “It’s horrendous that two officers have lost their lives in the line of duty. We just want to take the time to reflect on their lives, pay tribute to them, give our thanks for their service and bravery,” she concluded.
The Fatal Collision and its Aftermath
Simultaneously, another balloon release was scheduled in Middlesbrough to commemorate Cole Worthy, 17, another of the five young individuals who died. Matusiak, Worthy, Theo Rae (17), Makai Saddington (18), and Michael Cahill (23) were killed in a head-on collision early Saturday morning. The group was traveling the wrong way down the A66 when their vehicle collided with an unmarked police response vehicle carrying PC Matthew Blades, 37, and PC Tom Clough, 38.
The crash occurred approximately ten seconds after a police car, which had been pursuing the Volkswagen Passat, called off the chase. The officers in the response vehicle were not involved in the pursuit. Investigations revealed that some of the young men involved had extensive criminal records, including offenses related to drugs, assault, and robbery. Makai Saddington, in particular, had posted TikTok videos appearing to show him involved in police chases and was awaiting trial for charges including racially abusing and assaulting police officers.
Twelve individuals have been arrested in connection with the crash, with charges ranging from firearm possession to involvement in organized crime. Police had received multiple reports of the Volkswagen Passat being driven dangerously prior to the incident. A second vehicle, a Volvo XC60, was also reported for ramming properties in the Middlesbrough area. Both vehicles were found to be using cloned number plates, but were identified through the Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system. Authorities have stated there is no evidence to suggest that any filming of the events was conducted for TikTok.
Tributes to Fallen Officers and Victims
In the wake of the tragedy, tributes have poured in for the fallen officers. PC Blades’ wife described him as “our superhero” and a man who “gave his life in the line of duty, protecting and serving others with courage, dedication and selflessness.” PC Clough, a former soldier, was remembered by his family as “our hero” who was “always driven by a sense of public service.” A GoFundMe appeal established by the Cleveland Police Federation to support the officers’ families had raised over £500,000. The federation noted that the officers had “paid the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty” and left behind “heartbroken loved ones.”
Family members of the young men also shared heartfelt messages. Matusiak’s sister described him on social media as “my best friend, always and forever.” A family friend recounted memories of Matusiak, noting his tendency to seek refuge with them during difficult times.
The incident on the A66 bears a tragic resemblance to a recent crash in County Kildare, Ireland, where five teenagers died driving the wrong way on the M9 motorway. In that incident, a family in the other vehicle sustained serious injuries. Reports indicated that at least three of the teenagers involved in the Irish crash had boasted online about driving against traffic to evade police.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has urged social media platforms like TikTok to remove content that glorifies dangerous driving, calling such actions “truly reprehensible.” A Downing Street spokesperson echoed these sentiments, condemning the “glorification of dangerous driving for clips and entertainment” as “utterly disgraceful” and confirming that the government has raised these concerns with social media companies.
