THERE WAS SO MUCH MORE TO HIM…: COLE WORTHY’S FAMILY BREAKS THE SILENCE AFTER THE A66 HORR0R — AND THEIR WORDS CAST A HAUNTING NEW LIGHT ON THE 17-YEAR-OLD’S FINAL NIGHT
A property rammed by a car before the fatal crash on the A66 in Middlesbrough was the home of the father of a 17-year-old boy who died in the incident, ITV News understands.
Police had received multiple reports of two cars driving dangerously around the town and a Volvo XC60 was seen ramming properties.
The father of Cole Worthy, 17, lived at one of the properties. There is no evidence to suggest he was involved in criminal activity.
Cole Worthy was travelling in a Volkswagen Passat along with four others which was driven in the wrong direction down the dual carriageway when it hit a Cleveland Police vehicle, also killing two police officers.
It is believed Worthy and the other young men set out in the Passat after his father’s house was rammed.
The house in Middlesbrough can be seen with damage at the front, while some of the building’s windows have also been smashed.
PC Matthew Blades, 37, and PC Tom Clough, 38, were killed in the incident on Saturday morning.
Theo Rae, 17, Makai Saddington, 18, and 23-year-olds Michael Robert Cahill and Jakub Matusiak were travelling with Worthy in the Passat and were also killed.
Cleveland Police have made 17 arrests in connection with the incident, with people between the ages of 16 and 61 held on a range of alleged charges.
Inquests are due to open on Thursday at Teesside Magistrates’ Court for those killed in the incident, while more than £850,000 has been raised in memory of the two police officers.
Why are police worried about ‘prospect of trouble’ at funeral?
Our North of England correspondent Shingi Mararike said in his report from Middlesbrough that police are waiting near the funeral procession “for the prospect of trouble” (see 15:37).
This comes after a number of cars were set alight at a vigil for Michael Cahill, another one of the five men who died in the head-on collision with a police car on the A66, last week.
Durham Constabulary said they were called to a private field, 20 miles north of the crash site, where five vehicles were wrecked as a large crowd gathered.
The crowd’s behaviour was condemned as “completely unacceptable” by officers who said it was deemed safest to let the vehicles burn out.
Nobody was injured, and there were no arrests.
There are fears similar scenes could unfold following the funeral of Jakub Matusiak today.
Andy McDonald, the MP for Middlesbrough, told Sky News earlier that there is a “very significant police operation” to ensure the funeral “can pass off peacefully”.
Cleveland Police expect crowds to attend with quad bikes and motorbikes, warning the public of potential traffic disruption and delays in these areas:
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In pictures: Hundreds gather for funeral
We can now bring you some more pictures from Middlesbrough.
The funeral procession has reached St John The Evangelist Church, where the service for Jakub Matusiak is taking place.
Hundreds of people gathered in the South Bank area of Middlesbrough, wearing black or orange – Matusiak’s favourite colour.
The cortege included a horse-drawn carriage and a second vehicle carrying pictures of Matusiak and floral arrangements.
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Police waiting near procession for prospect of trouble
By Shingi Mararike, North of England correspondent, in Middlesbrough
The streets of Middlesbrough emptied before the funeral of Jakub Matusiak.
For a while, the only sound was the faint buzz of a police drone in the air, before the procession made its way into view.
The cortege was led by a horse-drawn carriage followed by a white hearse.
Behind the hearse were dozens of people flanked by a fleet of luxury cars playing a song by the British rapper Fredo.
Waiting at the other end of the South Bank area were a group of police officers, some on bikes, others in vehicles, out of view while the service was taking place, waiting for the prospect of trouble.
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Hundreds gather for funeral procession
The funeral procession for Jakub Matusiak has started.
The coffin is being transported in a horse-drawn carriage, with a crowd walking behind.
Hundreds of people gathered in the South Bank area of Middlesbrough, wearing black or orange – Matusiak’s favourite colour.
The coffin has “son” engraved and flowers on top of the carriage spell “brother”.
Two Lamborghinis and a Rolls-Royce follow the procession.
As a reminder, the procession started on Keir Hardie Crescent and is moving along Normanby Road to St John the Evangelist Church.
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Police warns of traffic disruption and delays
Superintendent John Wrintmore said potential traffic disruption and delays are expected from 3pm to 5pm.
This will affect areas of South Bank, Normanby Road through Teesville, Ormesby and Marton, and Acklam Road.
“We are working closely with highways departments from the local authorities, who are leading on the traffic management for this event, in order to minimise disruption,” he said.
“There will be a proportionate visible police presence in the affected areas to ensure public safety, in line with our plans for any significant gathering.
“Should anyone have any concerns, please speak with officers in the area.”
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Mapped: Route of funeral procession
Crowds, motorbikes and quad bikes are expected to gather in the South Bank area of Middlesbrough for the funeral of 23-year-old Jakub Matusiak.
The procession will start on Keir Hardie Crescent, before moving along Normanby Road to St John the Evangelist Church.
The funeral is expected to take place from 3pm to 5pm.
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‘Unacceptable’ that people fear leaving home
The MP for Middlesbrough says it is “unacceptable” that there are “pockets” in the city where “lives are disrupted massively”.
“That is unacceptable. People have been terrorised going out to their shops. You can’t have people being fearful about leaving their own home,” Andy McDonald tells our presenter Samantha Washington.
The Labour MP says there is a “very significant police operation” to ensure the first of the five funerals for the young men killed in the crash “can pass off peacefully”.
He adds schools, working with police, decided on a risk assessment basis it would be best to close early – “and that’s going to be the case again next week, I’m sure”…
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GP practices and library to close
As we’ve reported earlier, four schools are set to close ahead of the funeral for one of the young men killed in the wrong-way A66 crash in Middlesbrough (see 11:35 post).
A local library and two GP practices also announced closures.
Normanby Medical Centre told patients its Normanby and Eston branch would be closed from 1pm today.
“Due to the expected congestion and transport disruption in the immediate area from large numbers attending a funeral, we are moving all services to the Manor House branch,” the centre said in a note on its website.
“This decision has been reached after careful consideration and to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our staff and patients.”
Meanwhile, Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council said South Bank Library will close at 12.30pm today. The council did not provide a reason for the closure.
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School closures are ‘decisions to be taken by headteachers’, says education secretary
After the shadow education secretary criticised the school closures in Middlesbrough today over “concerns about disruption” (see post below), Lucy Powell said “these are decisions that have to be taken by the headteachers”.
“I absolutely don’t want to see schools closing or children not attending schools, but these are decisions that have been taken by the headteachers,” she told our Morning programme.
“These are decisions for headteachers about their schools that they have taken very, very difficult decisions, that they have taken in discussion with the local authority and the local police, because headteachers do have a responsibility to consider the safety of their children, the safety of their staff.”
Our home correspondent Amelia Harper said the concerns about disruption stem from crowds, quad bikes and motorbikes expected to attend the funeral proceedings for Jakub Matusiak today.
“I think the reason we are expecting that is because last week there was a vigil held for one of the other men who died in that accident,” she said, with footage of the motorbikes at the vigil being shown.
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Keep schools open for children to learn, says top Tory
Laura Trott, the shadow education secretary, has criticised closing schools “because of concerns about disorder”, saying “children should not be kept out of school because of the behaviour of thugs on the streets”.
Writing to education secretary Lucy Powell, Trott said: “You have a duty to ensure that this does not impact on the honest and decent pupils, parents and teachers in the area.”
“If schools are closing because of concerns about disorder, intimidation or criminality in the surrounding area, then those responsible should be held to account by law,” she wrote in the letter shared on X.
“Intimidation must never be tolerated. No child should lose out on their education because criminal gangs have brought fear and lawlessness to their community.”
She urged schools to “stay open for children to learn”.
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Here’s what the local council has to say on school closure plans
A spokesperson for Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council said:
“Following discussions between local headteachers and the local authority, a number of schools in the South Bank area will close earlier than usual on Friday afternoon due to anticipated traffic congestion and transport disruption associated with a local funeral taking place in the area.
“The decision was made after careful consideration of the potential impact on home-to-school transport and the departure of pupils, staff and families at the end of the school day.
“Schools have worked with the local authority and transport providers to consider arrangements for pupils, including those who travel to and from specialist educational settings.
“We recognise that early closure may cause inconvenience for some parents and carers, and we thank them for their understanding and co-operation.”
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Four schools closing early over funeral plans
Four schools are due to shut their doors between 11.45am and 12.15pm.
Crowds, motorbikes and quad bikes are expected to gather in Normanby Road in the South Bank area of Middlesbrough for the funeral.
The service is understood to be for 23-year-old Jakub Matusiak, also known as Jacob, who was travelling in the Volkswagen Passat that collided head-on with the police car on 22 August.
South Bank Primary School will close for pupils at 12pm “to ensure [their] safety and wellbeing”.
Headteacher Tammy Cooper said that decision was reached after “careful consideration of the potential impact on the departure of pupils, staff and families”.
Cooper said the school also recognises “some pupils may feel upset or anxious about the funeral taking place locally”.
Elsewhere, Mark Robinson, principal of Outwood Academy in Normanby, said in a letter to parents that the school would also close from midday.
A nearby GP and library are also closing early.
