MIDDLESBROUGH MOURNS AGAIN AS 18-YEAR-OLD MAKAI SADDINGTON IS LAID TO REST—BUT THIS HEARTBREAKING FAREWELL HAS REIGNITED A FURIOUS ROW AFTER SCHOOLS WERE SHUT EARLY AMID FEARS OVER THE CROWD, LEAVING LOCALS ASKING: WHO IS REALLY PAYING THE PRICE FOR THE A66 CHAOS?
Mourners have gathered for the third A66 crash funeral after a row erupted over the decision to close a number of schools for the first two funerals.
Dozens gathered to pay their respects to Makai Saddington, one of five young men who lost their lives in a horror wrong-way smash in Middlesbrough last month that also killed two police officers.
He is the third VW Passat occupant killed in the crash to be laid to rest, following a service at Teesside Crematorium.
The 18-year-old, alongside Cole Robert Worthy, 17, Theo Rae, 17, Michael Robert Cahill, 23, and Jakub Matusiak, 23, were pronounced dead at the scene in the early hours of August 22.
PC Matthew Blades, 37, and PC Tom Clough, 38, who were travelling in a marked armed response vehicle, also lost their lives in the line of duty.
A funeral was held yesterday for Mr Rae, with four schools in the area closing at staggered times from 12.15pm fearing ‘traffic disruption’, similar to closures for the funeral of Mr Matusiak on Friday.
Mourners today began to arrive in cars for Mr Saddington’s funeral from 11.20am, followed by a white carriage containing a white coffin, drawn by two horses wearing blue feathers.
On top of the carriage were blue and white coloured floral displays reading ‘my boy’.
Following the fatal crash, it came to light that Mr Saddington was awaiting trial on charges of racially abusing and assaulting officers.
He had made his first appearance before Teesside magistrates on July 17, when his case was adjourned to a later date.
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Mourners today began to arrive in cars from 11.20am, followed by a white carriage containing a white coffin, drawn by two horses wearing blue feather
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On top of the carriage were blue and white coloured floral displays reading ‘my boy’
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Dozens gathered to pay their respects to Makai Saddington, 18, (pictured) one of five young men who lost their lives in a horror wrong-way smash in Middlesbrough last month
