POLICE SUDDENLY ARRIVED AT A TEENAGER’S FUNERAL — THEN THE FAREWELL DESCENDED INTO CHAOS

Cole Worthy, 17, was being laid to rest after the devastating A66 crash when police were called to the crematorium over a disturbance.

The funeral of 17-year-old Cole Worthy, one of five young men who died in the horrific A66 crash, was supposed to be a final moment of farewell for his grieving family.

Instead, the service was suddenly disrupted when police were called to Teesside Crematorium as mourners gathered to say goodbye.

The incident happened around midday during Cole’s funeral, prompting officers to respond to a reported disturbance at the crematorium. A 39-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assault following the incident.

A FUNERAL TURNED INTO A POLICE SCENE

Cole was among five young men who died in the A66 collision on August 22.

The crash also claimed the lives of Cleveland Police officers PC Matthew Blades, 37, and PC Tom Clough, 38, after the Volkswagen Passat carrying the five young men collided head-on with the officers’ marked vehicle.

For Cole’s family, his funeral was intended to be a deeply personal goodbye.

But as mourners gathered at Teesside Crematorium, the atmosphere suddenly changed.

Police arrived after a disturbance was reported, and the funeral service was temporarily disrupted while officers dealt with the situation.

The service was later able to continue.

COLE’S FATHER LATER FACED CHARGES

The incident did not end at the crematorium.

Cole’s father, Gye Worthy, was later charged in connection with the disturbance.

He faces allegations of assault and obstructing police and is due to appear at Teesside Magistrates’ Court on October 2.

The charges are allegations only, and Gye Worthy has not been convicted of the offences.

A TRAGEDY THAT HAS SHAKEN MIDDLESBROUGH

Cole’s death came amid a wider period of tension surrounding the A66 crash and its aftermath.

The collision killed seven people in total and left families on both sides facing unimaginable grief.

The funerals have since drawn significant attention across the Teesside community.

Only hours after Cole’s funeral disruption, hundreds of police officers and members of the public were also gathering in Hartlepool to honour PC Matthew Blades, a married father of two.

A white-and-red floral tribute reading “Dad” was placed on top of Blades’ hearse as his family and fellow officers said their final goodbye.

ONE FINAL GOODBYE THAT NO ONE EXPECTED

For Cole’s loved ones, the day was supposed to be about remembering a 17-year-old whose life had been cut tragically short.

Instead, a police response became part of the final farewell.

The disturbing scenes added another painful chapter to an already devastating story — one that has left families mourning seven lives and a community struggling to come to terms with everything that followed the A66 crash.

And now, with court proceedings ahead, the events surrounding Cole Worthy’s funeral are likely to remain under scrutiny long after the mourners have gone home.