THEY CAME TO SAY ONE FINAL GOODBYE TO THEIR 17-YEAR-OLD SON — THEN POLICE SUDDENLY ARRIVED AT THE FUNERAL

Cole Worthy’s family had gathered at Teesside Crematorium to mourn the teenager killed in the A66 crash. Then, just after midday, the funeral was suddenly disrupted.

The family of 17-year-old Cole Worthy were preparing to say their final goodbye when an unexpected police response brought fresh turmoil to an already devastating day.

Cole was one of five young men who died in the horrific A66 collision on August 22, 2026, when a Volkswagen Passat travelling against the flow of traffic collided head-on with a marked Cleveland Police vehicle.

Two police officers, PC Matthew Blades, 37, and PC Tom Clough, 38, also died in the crash.

But weeks later, as Cole’s family gathered for his funeral, another dramatic incident unfolded.

POLICE CALLED TO THE FUNERAL

Cole’s funeral was held at Teesside Crematorium on Wednesday, September 9.

The service was already underway when police were called at around 12:30pm following reports of a disturbance inside the crematorium.

Cleveland Police said officers attended quickly.

A 39-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assault and taken into custody.

The funeral service was later able to resume.

Police remained in the area to provide reassurance as mourners continued to leave the crematorium.

THE MAN ARRESTED WAS COLE’S FATHER

The following day, Cleveland Police confirmed that the man arrested during the disturbance had been Gye Worthy, Cole’s father.

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

According to reports, the disturbance followed comments made during the funeral which Gye allegedly took exception to.

Cole’s mother, Natalie McConnell, was reportedly left deeply distressed by what happened during her son’s funeral.

The couple had separated several years earlier.

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

The charges are allegations and have not been proven in court.

COLE’S DEATH HAD ALREADY SHAKEN MIDDLESBROUGH

Cole was among seven people killed in the early-morning A66 collision.

The other young people travelling in the Passat were Theo Rae, 17, Makai Saddington, 18, Michael Robert Cahill, 23, and Jakub Matusiak, 23.

The two police officers in the other vehicle were also killed.

The crash has since been followed by heightened tensions across the Middlesbrough area, with Cleveland Police deploying additional officers and investigating a number of incidents surrounding the aftermath.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct is also investigating the circumstances surrounding the police pursuit and collision.

A FINAL GOODBYE THAT TURNED INTO ANOTHER DAY OF SHOCK

For Cole’s loved ones, the funeral was supposed to be a moment to remember a 17-year-old whose life had ended far too soon.

Instead, the ceremony was interrupted by a disturbance serious enough to bring police into the crematorium.

The service eventually resumed, but the events added another painful chapter to a tragedy that has already devastated multiple families.

Cole was laid to rest weeks after the A66 crash — while his family now faces yet another difficult moment surrounding the loss of their son.

The investigation into the circumstances of the funeral disturbance and the wider A66 tragedy continues.