More than £260,000 has been raised for the families of two police officers who died when a car driving the wrong way crashed into their vehicle on a dual carriageway in Teesside.
PCs Matthew Blades, 37, and Tom Clough, 38, were killed when a Volkswagen Passat, which had been pursued by police, hit the marked armed response car on the A66 seconds after the chase was terminated near Middlesbrough on Saturday.
The VW’s occupants – 23-year-olds Michael Robert Cahill and Jacob Matusiak, Makai Saddington, 18, and Theo Rae and Cole Robert Worthy, both 17 – also died.
A GoFundMe page created by the Cleveland Police Federation reached nearly £235,000 early on Monday.
Organisers said funds raised would be split equally between the two officers’ families and the federation would continue to provide support.
A second crowdfunding effort for the families had raised around £28,000.
Cleveland Police launched the chase after receiving intelligence relating to “numerous incidents” linked to a Passat, which activated an ANPR camera and is believed to have been using cloned plates, the investigating watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, said.
PCs Blades and Clough were not involved in the original pursuit, but had been called to the area to assist with the search for the Passat.
Family members described former Civil Nuclear Constabulary officer PC Clough as “our hero” who was “always on public duty”.
The father-of-two’s family said: “He gave his life in the line of duty, protecting and serving others with courage, dedication and selflessness.”
In a statement issued by Cleveland Police, PC Blades’ wife called him “my beloved husband, my best friend, and the most devoted father to our two young boys”.
She said 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,” she added.
“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.”
PC Blades had recently joined Seaton Carew FC as a coach and was looking forward to teaching his son in its under-sevens Seahawks squad, the club said.
The officer also coached his eldest son and other youngsters in the under-10s Reds team at FC Hartlepool, which called him “a role model, a mentor, a friend, and someone the children looked up to and admired”.
It added: “He was able to share his love of football with his son while inspiring and supporting every child on the team.”
Earlier on Sunday, PC Clough’s family said: “He was our hero with a fantastic sense of humour. Jumped into action whenever needed, and willing to help anyone for any reason.
“Proudly fought for his country to make the world a better place. Always on public duty throughout his short life.”
It continued: “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.”
Tributes for the five young men were also shared on social media, with many of their friends saying they “can’t believe it”, were “heartbroken” and “lost for words”.
Balloon releases have been announced in their memory on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at different locations, including in South Bank.
One message, dedicated to all five, said: “We all knew use [sic] and knew use [sic] had hearts of gold and most loyalist lads.”
The Passat they were travelling in was spotted, and an armed response vehicle pursued for just under seven minutes before the car drove onto the A66 in South Bank against the flow of traffic.
Police aborted the chase and continued to travel on the correct side of the carriageway.
The Passat crashed into PCs Blades and Clough’s vehicle around 10 seconds after the chase ended.
A silent prayer vigil will be held at St John the Evangelist Church in South Bank on Monday.
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