Several schools across the Middlesbrough area implemented early closures today. This action followed public safety concerns ahead of the funeral for Jakub Matusiak. Mr. Matusiak, 23, was one of seven individuals tragically killed in a recent A66 collision.
The devastating head-on crash occurred near South Bank on August 22. A Volkswagen Passat, reportedly using cloned registration plates, travelled the wrong way on the dual carriageway. It collided with a marked police vehicle.
Five young men, including Mr. Matusiak, lost their lives in the incident. Their names were Makai Saddington, Theo Rae, Michael Robert Cahill, and Cole Robert Worthy. Two police officers, PC Matthew Blades, 37, and PC Tom Clough, 38, also perished in the collision.
Hundreds of mourners gathered near Middlesbrough for Mr. Matusiak’s funeral. Head teachers subsequently warned parents about expected large crowds and potential traffic disruption. The decision for the Middlesbrough school closures was made following discussions between local head teachers and Redcar and Cleveland Council, not as a police recommendation.
Affected institutions included South Bank Primary School, St Peter’s, and Outwood Academy Normanby, which closed at lunchtime. Archway Academy in Teesville shut its doors at 11:45 BST, while St Margaret Clitherow’s Catholic Primary School closed at 12:15. Additionally, the Mackenzie Thorpe Centre and South Bank Library also implemented early or full-day closures.
South Bank Primary stated early closure ensured “the safety and wellbeing of our pupils.” Head teacher Tammy Cooper noted the large numbers anticipated at St John’s Church on Normanby Road. Cleveland Police acknowledged potential traffic disruption from 15:00 to 17:00 BST across several key routes. However, they confirmed the school closure decisions were independent, not police-mandated.
Meanwhile, Education Secretary Lucy Powell addressed the situation, trusting head teachers to make necessary judgments for safety. Conservative MP Laura Trott had urged Ms. Powell to keep schools open and ensure sufficient police support. Ms. Powell affirmed her commitment to children’s safety, indicating contact with MPs and the Home Office for extra resources to “calm those tensions down.”
This situation follows a previous vigil for another young victim, which escalated into disorder in Haswell, County Durham, involving car fires. Police have since arrested 24 individuals as part of a broader operation targeting organised crime in the wake of the crash. The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, noted the Passat was pursued for 10 seconds before the fatal impact.
