The 'gang attack' that unleashed carnage and led to five 'joyriders' plus two police officers being killed in wrong-way A66 crash

A stolen car which ploughed head on into a police patrol vehicle and killed seven people had been chasing a rival gang as part of a violent feud, it was claimed today. The resulting crash on the A66 killed two police officers as well as all five occupants of a stolen VW Passat, including 17-year-old Cole Worthy. Now the Daily Mail can reveal that the chase was allegedly sparked by a rival gang, who used a Volvo XC60 to ram into the home of Cole Worthy's father at 3am on Saturday – just 40 minutes before the devastating smash.It is understood that, in the early hours of Saturday, the house belonging to Gye Worthy was rammed twice by the Volvo, which deliberately reversed into the front window, causing extensive damage. Within minutes, a VW Passat containing his son Cole and four young friends was racing around the streets of Middlesbrough in pursuit of the Volvo involved in the attack.The Passat was later spotted by a police patrol, resulting in the horrific crash that killed PC Tom Clough, 38, and PC Matthew Blades, 37.The five occupants of the stolen car - Worthy, Makai Saddington, 18, Jakub Matusiak, 23, Theo Rae, 17, and Michael Cahill, 23 - were also killed in the collision.Reports of the crash have until now described the youths involved as 'joyriders', however it now appears they were out for violent revenge rather than thrill seeking.The Mail understands that the occupants of the Volvo and the Passat belonged to rival gangs operating as part of an organised criminal network across Teesside.There is no suggestion that Cole's father, Gye Worthy, 39, was involved in any criminal activity. The attack on his home, however, appears to be the flashpoint that led to the fatal crash. The chase was allegedly sparked by a rival gang using a Volvo XC60 to ram into the home of Cole Worthy's father at 3am on Saturday. Pictured: The extent of the damage to the property Gye Worthy with his son Cole, who died in the crash on the A66. A neighbour said My Worthy led a 'normal life' and there is no suggestion he was involved in criminal activity Scores of people yesterday held orange flares aloft in a field in South Bank, Middlesborough, to mark the deaths of the five joyriders The chain of events that led to the deaths of the two officers, as well as the five occupants of the car, began in the unlikely setting of Acklam, Middlesbrough, on a usually quiet street of post-war semis. 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.'One neighbour of the Worthys said Cole's father had lived at the address for around ten years and led 'a normal life'. He is listed at Companies House as the director of a private limited company called Worthylift Ltd, which was incorporated in July this year.A source told the Mail: '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.'There have been a series of houses rammed in Middlesbrough in the last few months and it's all part of a feud between rival criminal factions.'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.'Cleveland Police has confirmed both the Volvo and VW Passat formed part of their enquiries in the early hours of August 22.Mr Worthy's home was rammed at around 3am. By 3.36am, the VW Passat was caught on CCTV racing at between 80 and 100mph down Lime Road in Teesville, pursued by three police vehicles.At 3.39am, it turned the wrong way onto the A66 dual carriageway, at which point the pursuing police vehicles stopped.Just ten seconds later, it smashed head-on into the armed response vehicle carrying PCs Clough and Blades.A spokesman for Cleveland Police said: 'On the morning of Saturday 22 August, Cleveland Police received several reports of two vehicles being driven dangerously.'The first vehicle, which is believed to be a Volvo XC60, was witnessed ramming properties in the Middlesbrough area. PC Matthew Blades, a father of two, was killed when his police vehicle was struck head-on by a VW Passat travelling the wrong way down the A66 near Middlesbrough PC Tom Clough also died in the crash, which occurred around ten seconds after a police pursuit of the Volkswagen had been called off Cole Worthy (right) with his friend Theo Rae, who also died in the crash on Saturday'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.'Last night, balaclava-clad youths sparked anger after setting off flares and fireworks in a noisy tribute to the five dead youths.Friends and family of Jakub Matusiak, 23, gathered at a field in South Bank, Middlesbrough, just yards from the scene of Saturday's catastrophic collision.What began as a balloon release descended into confusion of smoke and noise when attendees lit up the sky with flares and rockets.A gang of around 20 masked youths on motorbikes and quad bikes roared around the field in honour of Mr Matusiak, who himself had convictions for motoring offences.Footage showed dozens of flares being held aloft, filling the field with dense orange fog as bikes revved their engines and blared their horns. Jacob Matusiak, another occupant of the car which hit the officers, also posted videos of himself driving recklessly Makai Saddington, one of the five killed in the VW, posted videos on TikTok of him being chased by police and was awaiting trial for racially abusing and assaulting officers Michael Robert Cahill was also in the VW. He was the only one out of the five not to have previous convictions The scenes sparked anger, with onlookers accusing the crowd of showing 'disrespect of the highest order'.The chaos came in stark contrast to a silent prayer vigil held at a nearby church to honour PC Clough and PC Blades.Hundreds of people on social media criticised yesterday's scenes. Diane Pennock said: 'I get it that their family's and friends will be devastated and grieving but surely in circumstances where they have killed two innocent men who were simply out doing their jobs, you grieve in private?'To me, the public show of grief is completely excusing what they have done and that they have taken two young men's lives who had families and children they should have gone home to.'Writing on Facebook, Wendy Allington accused the mourners of showing 'disrespect of the highest level for the two murdered policemen' and said a quiet vigil would have been more appropriate. The balloon release was also criticised by environmental campaigners, who insist the plastic in balloons spreads pollution that risks harming wildlife. Balloons can block animals' digestive and respiratory tracts, causing them to die a slow and painful death. Plenty of the residents of the surrounding streets chose not to attend the memorial events. Looking at the police officers standing beside their vehicles, a 58-year-old grandmother said: 'What must they be thinking right now? This is nothing but a mockery of the lives of those two policemen.'I've watched them walking down there drinking and smoking weed and razzing about on their motorbikes. There's nothing here to celebrate.' Previous convictions of the gang Cole WorthyUse threatening abusive language to cause harassment, alarm and distress on October 27, 2024 and pleaded guiltyFailing to surrender to custody on May 14, 2025 and pleaded guiltyCommon assault of a police officer on 27 April 2025 and pleaded guiltyDriving without a licence on June 7, 2026 and pleaded guiltyUsing a vehicle without insurance on June 7, 2026 and pleaded guiltyDriving without reasonable consideration on June 7, 2026 and pleaded guiltyDriving using a mobile phone on June 7, 2026 and pleaded guiltyJakub MatusiakUsing a vehicle without insurance on March 22, 2026 and pleaded guiltyDriving without a licence on March 22, 2026 and pleaded guiltyMakai SaddingtonPossession of a controlled class C drug on May 31, 2025 and pleaded guiltyPossession of a knife in a public place on May 31, 2025 and pleaded guilty11 October 2025 three offences for assaulting a police officer and pleaded guiltyAssaulted a police officer on June 9, 2026 and pleaded guiltyRacially aggravated intentional harassment, alarm and distress on June 9, 2026 and pleaded guiltyTheo Rae12 shoplifting offences between October 21, 2023 and May 4, 2024 and pleaded guilty to all offencesThree thefts from motor vehicle offences between January 31, 2024 and September 25, 2024 and pleaded guilty to all offencesOne theft of vehicle on April 13, 2024 and pleaded guiltyPossession of cannabis on April 22, 2024 and pleaded guiltyAggravated vehicle taking on May 16, 2024 and pleaded guiltyAggravated vehicle taking January 2, 2025 and pleaded guiltyConviction of an offence while a youth rehabilitation order is in force on February 26, 2025 and pleaded guiltyAssaulted a police officer on April 30, 2026 and pleaded guilty