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Seven people, including two police officers, died after a Volkswagen Passat travelling the wrong way on a major road crashed into a marked police car in northeast England.

The collision happened at around 3:39 a.m. on Saturday near South Bank, east of Middlesbrough, Cleveland Police said. All occupants of both vehicles were pronounced dead at the scene.

The A66, a major route through Teesside, was closed in both directions following the crash. Police said the road was expected to remain shut for the rest of the day as emergency teams and investigators worked at the site.

Cleveland Police Calls Crash a Tragedy

Cleveland Police Chief Constable Victoria Fuller expressed condolences to the families of those killed, including the two officers.

“This tragic incident will be felt across Cleveland, within our communities and throughout the entire policing family,” Fuller said.

She added, “No one should leave their home and not return safely, including police officers serving their communities and protecting the people of Cleveland.”

The force said it was working to formally identify all those who died. The exact circumstances leading to the collision are still being investigated.

Suspicious Vehicle Spotted Before Crash

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which oversees investigations involving police, said officers had spotted the suspicious vehicle before a pursuit began. The incident will now be reviewed by the IOPC, as is common practice when a police vehicle is involved in a serious crash.

The North East Ambulance Service said it sent 14 emergency resources to the scene. Despite the response from emergency teams, several people died at the site.

Wrong-Way Driving Raises Safety Concerns

The crash comes amid wider concerns over dangerous driving. Ireland recently saw two head-on motorway crashes, including one that killed five people. Ireland’s police chief had warned that some young drivers were travelling the wrong way on motorways “for social media likes”.

An Irish parliament committee has also asked TikTok to explain how it removes content “that appears to glorify dangerous and illegal behaviour on our roads”.

Motorists in the area were advised to avoid the A66 and use alternative routes while the investigation continued.

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