A66 CR@SH TR@GEDY TAKES SHOCKING TURN AS FATHER IS CHARGED AFTER HIS SON’S FUNERAL

The funeral of 17-year-old Cole Worthy was supposed to be a day of grief, remembrance and farewell. Instead, the emotional service was disrupted — and Cole’s father is now facing court.

The family of Cole Worthy had gathered at Teesside Crematorium on Wednesday, September 9, to say goodbye to the teenager whose life was cut tragically short in the devastating A66 crash.

But during the service, a disturbance reportedly broke out.

Police were called to the crematorium at around 12:30 p.m., and a 39-year-old man was arrested.

That man was Cole’s father, Gye Worthy.

A FUNERAL TURNS INTO A POLICE INCIDENT

According to Cleveland Police, officers responded after reports of a disturbance during the service.

The funeral was able to resume after officers attended.

Gye Worthy was subsequently charged with common assault, a public-order offence and obstructing police.

He is due to appear before Teesside Magistrates’ Court on October 2.

The charges relate to allegations arising from the disturbance. They have not been proven in court.

COLE’S FAMILY LEFT DEVASTATED

The development has added another painful chapter to an already heartbreaking story.

A source close to the family told The Sun that Cole’s mother, Natalie McConnell, was left “devastated and shocked” by what happened during her son’s funeral.

The couple had separated several years earlier and both had since moved on with their lives.

Friends and relatives had gathered to remember Cole as a much-loved son, brother, grandson, nephew, cousin, boyfriend and friend.

A family memorial described him simply as their “beautiful boy” and paid tribute to the teenager who was “forever 17.”

 COLE WAS ONE OF FIVE YOUNG MEN LOST IN THE A66 CRASH

Cole died on August 22 in the horrific A66 collision that also claimed the lives of four other young men and two Cleveland Police officers.

The five young men were identified as:

• Michael Robert Cahill, 23
• Theo Rae, 17
• Cole Robert Worthy, 17
• Jakub Matusiak, 23
• Makai Saddington, 18

The crash happened when a Volkswagen Passat collided head-on with a police vehicle carrying armed officers PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough.

Both officers also lost their lives.

The tragedy has since triggered an enormous police response across Middlesbrough, with around 200 additional specialist officers deployed from other northern forces as authorities attempted to prevent further disorder.

 TWO FUNERALS, ONE CITY IN MOURNING

Cole’s funeral took place on the same day that PC Matthew Blades was laid to rest in Hartlepool.

The contrast was striking.

Hundreds of police officers and members of the public gathered to honour PC Blades, a 37-year-old father of two and armed-response officer remembered as a dedicated family man and community hero.

The following day, PC Tom Clough was also remembered in a major funeral attended by police officers, soldiers and members of the public.

Across Middlesbrough, the funerals have become emotional reminders of the seven lives lost in a single night.

⚖️ NOW, COLE’S FATHER FACES COURT

For Cole’s family, the day that was meant to be about saying goodbye has instead produced another painful headline.

Gye Worthy is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

His court appearance on October 2 is expected to address the charges arising from the disturbance at the funeral.

Meanwhile, the grief surrounding Cole’s death continues.

A teenager who should have been celebrating his future is instead being remembered through photographs, flowers, messages and memories.

And on the day his family came together to say their final farewell, an unexpected incident changed everything.

A FUNERAL MEANT TO BRING A FAMILY TOGETHER ENDED WITH A FATHER FACING COURT — LEAVING EVEN MORE QUESTIONS SURROUNDING ONE OF THE A66 TRAGEDY’S MOST EMOTIONAL DAYS.

👇 READ THE FULL STORY IN THE COMMENTS