Multiple people died after a crash on A66 South Bank near Middlesbrough at about 03:39 BST, after a police vehicle and a Volkswagen Passat collided. Cleveland Police said the road remains closed in both directions between Normanby Road and Church Lane, and members of the public should use alternative routes.
A police spokesman said: "Sadly, the collision has resulted in multiple fatalities. We are working to identify the victims and contact their families." North East Ambulance Service said three vehicles were involved in total and 14 ambulance resources were called to the scene.
Cleveland Police and North East Ambulance Service
The collision brought a large emergency response to the A66 in South Bank in Teesside. Cleveland Police said there were still significant emergency service vehicles on the scene, and the force said the road would remain closed for some time.
The involvement of a police vehicle made the crash stand out from a routine road collision. The confirmed focus now is on identifying the victims and notifying families before the scene can be cleared and the A66 reopened.
Normanby Road and Church Lane
The closure covers the stretch between Normanby Road and Church Lane, leaving that part of the A66 unusable in both directions. Road users who normally pass through South Bank are being directed elsewhere while the response continues.
Police have not given a toll beyond multiple fatalities, but North East Ambulance Service said a number of patients died at the scene. For anyone affected by the closure, the immediate step is to avoid the area and follow alternative routes until the emergency response is finished.
