A head-on collision in northeast England kills 7 people, including 2 police officers<\/p>\n
Seven people, including two police officers, were killed early Saturday in a head-on collision in northeast England following a pursuit.<\/p>\n
Cleveland Police said that a Volkswagen Passat carrying five people was traveling the wrong way down the A66 highway near Middlesbrough and collided with a police vehicle on the same road going in the right direction.<\/p>\n
The seven people were pronounced dead at the scene after the crash at 3:39 a.m.<\/p>\n
The two officers were identified as Matthew Blades and Tom Clough, Cleveland Police Chief Constable Victoria Fuller said.<\/p>\n
Police were still working to formally identify other victims. The families of those already identified have been informed and were offered specialist support, police said.<\/p>\n
Cleveland Police were investigating the crash, alongside the Independent Office for Police Conduct, which is always involved when such incidents take place.<\/p>\n
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said that he was “devastated” to hear about the loss of life and urged “people to avoid speculation at this time.”<\/p>\n