“THEIR SON IS NOT TO BLAME” — FAMILY SPEAKS OUT AS NEW A66 DETAILS EMERGE

The family of one of the five young men involved in the fatal A66 collision has questioned the events leading up to the tragedy, as investigators continue to piece together what happened in the minutes before the crash.

The A66 tragedy near Middlesbrough claimed the lives of seven people — five young men travelling in a Volkswagen Passat and two Cleveland Police officers, PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough.

But as the investigation continues, new details have begun to change the picture surrounding those final moments.

POLICE PURSUIT LASTED LESS THAN SEVEN MINUTES

According to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, officers initially responded to reports involving a Volkswagen Passat.

An armed response vehicle pursued the car for just under seven minutes.

The Passat then entered the A66 travelling against the flow of traffic.

The pursuit was aborted — but only around 10 seconds later, the Passat collided with another police vehicle carrying PC Blades and PC Clough.

The two officers were not involved in the original pursuit. They had been called to the area to assist in locating the vehicle.

The IOPC has obtained officer accounts, incident logs and in-car footage as part of its investigation into the circumstances surrounding the collision.

A HOUSE RAMMED BEFORE THE CRASH

One of the most significant developments concerns the home of 17-year-old Cole Worthy’s father.

Police had received reports of vehicles being driven dangerously around Middlesbrough before the collision.

A Volvo XC60 was reportedly seen ramming properties, and ITV News reported that one of the damaged homes belonged to Cole Worthy’s father.

There is no evidence to suggest that Cole’s father was involved in criminal activity.

Investigators believe the Passat may have been associated with the earlier incidents involving the Volvo.

That has raised questions about what happened in the short period between the property attack and the fatal journey onto the A66.

THE FAMILY’S CLAIMS ADD ANOTHER LAYER

Relatives of one of the young men have questioned whether the police response could have been handled differently.

Their comments have generated strong reactions, particularly because two police officers were also among those who lost their lives.

However, the circumstances surrounding the pursuit are now formally being examined by the police watchdog.

That means the most important questions will ultimately have to be answered through evidence — including police footage, communications, vehicle data and witness accounts — rather than public speculation.

INVESTIGATION WIDENS

The A66 investigation has also expanded beyond the collision itself.

Cleveland Police have arrested numerous people over alleged criminality connected to events leading up to the crash, while authorities have said some of the five young men may have had links to serious and organised criminal activity.

That does not, however, establish the precise motive for the events immediately before the collision.

Investigators are still working to establish the complete sequence of events.

WHAT HAPPENED IN THOSE FINAL MINUTES?

The most important unanswered question remains the same:

What happened between the moment the Passat was located, the pursuit being stopped, and the vehicle entering the A66 in the wrong direction?

The IOPC investigation could provide crucial answers.

For the families of all seven victims, those answers matter enormously.

The tragedy was not simply one collision.

It was the final moment of a rapidly unfolding chain of events — and investigators are now working backwards, trying to understand every decision, every movement and every second that came before it.

As new evidence emerges, the story surrounding the A66 tragedy continues to change — but the full picture has yet to be established.