‘Joyriders’ killed with two cops in wrong-way smash were ‘chasing down rivals in revenge for gang attack before horror’

THE stolen car involved in a fatal wrong-way collision that killed seven people had been pursuing a rival gang as part of a violent feud, it is claimed. In the early hours of Saturday a VW Passat ploughed into a patrol car, claiming the lives of PC Matthew Blades, 37, and PC Tom Clough, 38. The fatal collision happened in the early hours of Saturday morning Credit: NNP Floral tributes have been laid at Cleveland Police HQ for the two dead officers Credit: PA Michael Robert Cahill, 23, Theo Rae, 17, Cole Robert Worthy, 17, Jacob Matusiak, 23, and Makai Saddington, 18, were all also killed in the tragic collision. Twelve people were arrested in connection with the tragedy yesterday, with five more, including a 16-year-old boy, arrested by detectives investigating the events leading up to the crash today. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! It has since been revealed that the VW Passat that the five young men were in had been chasing a rival gang who used a Volvo XC60 to ram into the home of Cole Worthy’s dad just 40 minutes before the fatal collision. The Daily Mail reports that a home belonging to Gye Worthy was rammed twice by the Volvo, which reversed into the front window, causing extensive damage. Close friends Theo Rae, 17, (left) and Cole Worthy, 17, are understood to have been chasing a rival gang in the Passat when it crashed Credit: Facebook/Theo Rae Minutes later the Passat was racing through Middlesbrough with Worthy and four of his friends inside. They were allegedly pursuing the Volvo involved in the attack on Worthy’s dad’s home. It was while the Passat was speeding through the town that a police patrol spotted it and a chase ensued. Police pursued the Volkswagen Passat in the early hours of Saturday morning after the plates activated an ANPR camera, the Independent Office for Police Conduct said. Most read in The Sun Officers then chased the car through Middlesbrough for just under seven mins before the cops called off the pursuit when the Passat joined the A66. Just 10 seconds later at 3.39am the car ploughed into another marked armed-response vehicle carrying two officers. The vehicle was travelling on the correct side of the carriageway and had not been part of the high-speed chase but was in the area to assist. Initial reports suggested the five young men were “TikTok joyriders” after it was revealed that Makai previously posted several videos to TikTok which appear to show him in a high-speed police chase. Saddington had also shared clips to social media showing him driving dangerously. However, the Daily Mail reports that the five young men were in fact part of an organised criminal network operating across Teesside. Makai Saddington, 18, had previous convictions and was alleged to be pursuing a rival gang alongside his friends Jacob Matusiak, 23, also had previous convictions and died in the crash Credit: Facebook/Jakub Hewitt Michael Cahill, 23, who had no convictions, died in the crash which also killed two police officers Credit: Facebook/Michael Ray Two of the five young men had previously shared videos of them joyriding Credit: TikTok/@unknownm829 There is no suggestion that Cole Worthy’s dad, Gye Worthy, 39, was involved in any criminal activity but the attack on his home is believed to have sparked the chase. A neighbour said: “The huge bang woke everyone up and it was then followed by a second. “Whatever happened was quick because, by the time my husband looked out of the window, the car was gone, but there was very bad damage to the house.” And a source claimed: “After the attack on his father’s house, Cole Worthy and his mates were out in the VW Passat looking for whoever had done this. When they fight among themselves it is one thing, but when innocent lives like those of two police officers are lost, that’s completely another.” According to Cleveland Police, both the Volvo and the Passat were part of their enquiries in the aftermath of the tragic wrong-way smash. It is understood that the Volvo rammed Worthy’s home at around 3am, by 3.36am the Passat was in a high- speed police chase which was called off seconds before the devastating crash when the vehicle went the wrong way down the A66. Four of the five young men killed in the horror A66 smash had previous convictions. Previous convictions of four occupants Cole Worthy Use threatening abusive language to cause harassment, alarm and distress on 27 October 2024 and pleaded guilty Failing to surrender to custody on 14 May 2025 and pleaded guilty Common assault of a police officer on 27 April 2025 and pleaded guilty Driving without a licence on 7 June 2026 and pleaded guilty Using a vehicle without insurance on 7 June 2026 and pleaded guilty Driving without reasonable consideration on 7 June 2026 and pleaded guilty Driving using a mobile phone on 7 June 2026 and pleaded guilty Jakub Matusiak Using a vehicle without insurance on 22 March 2026 and pleaded guilty Driving without a licence on 22 March 2026 and pleaded guilty Makai Saddington Possession of a controlled class C drug on 31 May 2025 and pleaded guilty Possession of a knife in a public place on 31 May 2025 and pleaded guilty 11 October 2025 three offences for assaulting a police officer and pleaded guilty Assaulted a police officer on 9 June 2026 and pleaded guilty Racially aggravated intentional harassment, alarm and distress on 9 June 2026 and pleaded guilty Theo Rae 12 shoplifting offences between 21 October 2023 and 4 May 2024 and pleaded guilty to all offences Three thefts from motor vehicle offences between 31 January 2024 and 25 September 2024 and pleaded guilty to all offences One theft of vehicle on 13 April 2024 and pleaded guilty Possession of cannabis on 22 April 2024 and pleaded guilty Aggravated vehicle taking on 16 May 2024 and pleaded guilty Aggravated vehicle taking 2 January 2025 and pleaded guilty Conviction of an offence while a youth rehabilitation order is in force on 26 February 2025 and pleaded guilty Assaulted a police officer on 30 April 2026 and pleaded guilty Michael Robert Cahill No convictions Saddington pleaded guilty to possession of a Class C drug and a knife in May 2025 and months later admitted three offences of assaulting a police officer. Meanwhile, Worthy admitted using threatening and abusive language to cause harassment, alarm and distress in October 2024. In March, Matusiak admitted using a vehicle without insurance and driving without a licence. And Rae was convicted of assaulting a police officer, shoplifting, stealing cars, theft, drug possession and breaching a youth rehabilitation order. As police continue to probe the tragic collision 12 people were arrested in connection with the incident yesterday with five more taken into custody today. The alleged offences include possession of a firearm and participating in the activities of an organised crime group. Some of those arrested over the A66 investigation are suspected of “participating in the activities of an organised crime group” Cleveland Police confirmed. The force said: “On the morning of Saturday 22 August, Cleveland Police received several reports of two vehicles being driven dangerously. PC Matthew Blades’ wife has paid a touching tribute to her husband (image released to police by the victim’s family) Credit: Cleveland Police PC Tom Clough tragically died in the horror collision Credit: PA “The first vehicle, which is believed to be a Volvo XC60, was witnessed ramming properties in the Middlesbrough area. “The second vehicle, a Volkswagen Passat, is believed to have been associated with the activities of the Volvo XC60. “Both vehicles were operating with cloned number plates to avoid detection but were picked up by the force’s automated number plate recognition technology. “The Volvo XC60 involved in the initial reports has been traced and recovered in Middlesbrough as part of the criminal investigation. “Throughout the course of the weekend, Cleveland Police, supported by officers and staff from Durham, Northumbria and North Yorkshire Police, have worked tirelessly to establish the circumstances that led to the fatal collision. “Those enquiries have resulted in the arrests of 12 people across Teesside.”