Wife’s Tribute to PC Matthew Blades After A66 Crash: Officer Remembered as Devoted Father Who Gave His Life on Duty

The wife of PC Matthew Blades has paid an emotional tribute to her husband after he and fellow Cleveland Police officer PC Tom Clough were killed in the devastating A66 collision that claimed seven lives.

Blades, 37, and Clough, 38, were travelling in a marked police Armed Response Vehicle when it was struck by a Volkswagen Passat travelling the wrong way along the A66 in South Bank in the early hours of Saturday, August 22. Both officers and all five people in the Passat died at the scene.

For Blades’ family, the loss is not only that of a police officer killed while serving his community. His wife remembered him as her closest companion, a devoted father to their two young sons and a man whose warmth extended throughout their family and circle of friends.

Matthew Blades’ wife pays tribute

In a statement released through Cleveland Police, Blades’ wife said it was impossible to find words that could adequately honour the man she knew as her husband, best friend and the father of their children.

She described him as a deeply loved son and brother, a cherished son-in-law and a fun-loving uncle whose death had left an irreplaceable absence.

At the heart of her tribute was the way Blades approached his work. She said he had given his life in the line of duty while protecting others with courage, commitment and selflessness.

Although the family’s lives have been permanently changed, she said their sons would grow up understanding what kind of father he had been. His lasting legacy, she added, would be the love he gave his family.

Her statement concluded by thanking the emergency services, Cleveland Police colleagues and everyone who had supported the family following the tragedy.

A father, football coach and charity runner

Away from policing, Blades was closely involved with football and had coached at FC Hartlepool, including coaching his own son.

The club remembered him as much more than someone who simply taught children how to play. He was regarded as a mentor and role model who invested his time and energy in helping young players develop both on and off the pitch.

Blades was also a Manchester United supporter and had completed half-marathons to raise money for Parkinson’s UK, with plans to continue taking part in charity runs.

For those who knew him through football, his patience, encouragement and personality were central to how he was remembered.

PC Tom Clough remembered as a family hero

Clough’s family and partner also issued a tribute following his death.

The 38-year-old was believed to have served with the British Army in Iraq and Afghanistan before joining Cleveland Police. His family remembered a man with a strong sense of humour who was always prepared to step forward when someone needed help.

They also expressed gratitude for the messages of sympathy and support they had received following the collision.

Cleveland Police Chief Constable Victoria Fuller described Blades and Clough as brave officers who had been serving and protecting their communities but did not return home at the end of their shift.

Five people in Volkswagen Passat also killed

Seven people died after a Volkswagen Passat collided with a police car (Picture: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire)

Police subsequently identified the five occupants of the Volkswagen Passat as Cole Robert Worthy, 17; Theo Rae, 17; Makai Saddington, 18; Jakub Matusiak, 23; and Michael Robert Cahill, 23.

All five died in the collision alongside Blades and Clough. Specialist family liaison officers have been supporting the bereaved families.

The crash occurred at approximately 3:39 a.m. on the A66 in South Bank. Cleveland Police confirmed that the Passat was travelling against the flow of traffic when it collided with the marked police vehicle, which was travelling in the correct direction.

What happened before the A66 collision

14 ambulance resources were deployed as the area was cordoned off (Picture: Tom Wilkinson/PA Wire)

According to the account in the original report, police had received intelligence concerning a Volkswagen Passat allegedly linked to a number of incidents and believed to be using cloned registration plates.

The vehicle was detected after activating an Automatic Number Plate Recognition camera. An armed response vehicle then began pursuing it.

The pursuit continued for just under seven minutes before the Passat entered the A66 at South Bank travelling against the direction of traffic.

Police then called off the pursuit, with officers continuing along the correct side of the carriageway.

Around 10 seconds later, according to the report, the Passat collided head-on with the marked police vehicle occupied by Blades and Clough.

Doorbell footage published following the incident appeared to show a vehicle travelling at speed along Lime Road shortly before the collision, followed by police vehicles.

Investigation referred to police watchdog

Cleveland Police has referred the incident to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, as required when a death occurs following police contact.

The force has said it will cooperate fully with the investigation and has urged the public not to speculate while the circumstances surrounding the collision are examined.

The tragedy has prompted an outpouring of support for the officers’ families. A fundraising appeal established to help the two families had already raised more than £100,000 within hours, according to the original report.

For Blades’ wife, however, the public tributes sit alongside a much more personal loss: two young boys have lost their father, and a family has lost the man they regarded as its centre.

Her message made clear how she hopes he will ultimately be remembered — not only for the uniform he wore and the duty he performed, but for the husband, father, relative, coach and friend he was away from it.