Seven killed in crash during UK police pursuit near Middlesbrough

Seven people, including two police officers, were killed in a horrific road crash during a police pursuit near Middlesbrough in the United Kingdom in the early hours of Saturday.

According to reports, the crash occurred at about 3.39am in South Bank when a Volkswagen Passat travelling in the wrong direction on the A66 collided with a marked police vehicle travelling in the correct direction.

The two police officers who died in the crash were identified as 37-year-old PC Matthew Blades and 38-year-old PC Tom Clough.

The five people travelling in the Volkswagen were also killed in the collision. Cleveland Police said the families of those who died were being supported by officers.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has opened an investigation into the circumstances leading to the crash following a mandatory referral from Cleveland Police.

The investigation will examine the events surrounding the collision and the circumstances that led to the fatal crash.