Fund for families of A66 crash victims passes £750,000 as six remain in custody
A public fund for the families of seven people killed in the A66 crash has surpassed £750,000. Six people remain in custody as police investigate organised crime links to the collision.
A public fundraising appeal for the families of seven people killed in the A66 crash has passed £750,000, as six suspects remain in custody over alleged organised crime activity linked to the collision. The fund was launched after the deaths of two police officers and five other people in the incident on the major road in County Durham and Teesside.
Cleveland Police have confirmed that 12 other people have been arrested over alleged criminality leading up to the crash, which involved a Volkswagen vehicle and a police pursuit. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has launched an investigation into the fatal collision, which occurred after officers attempted to stop a vehicle.
The two officers who died have been named as they are remembered by colleagues and the public. The five other victims, described as young men, have also been identified. The force has said that some of those who died may have had links to organised criminal activity, and the investigation is being treated as part of a wider probe into criminal networks in the region.
The fundraising page, set up to support the bereaved families, has drawn widespread public support, with donations continuing to arrive from across the country. The total now exceeds £750,000, reflecting the strength of feeling following the tragedy. Community leaders have described the response as a sign of solidarity with the families and the emergency services involved.
Six individuals are currently being held in custody as part of the organised crime investigation. Police have not disclosed the exact nature of the alleged offences but have indicated that the crash was not an isolated incident and that a series of events preceded the fatal pursuit. The force has appealed for witnesses and dashcam footage to assist the inquiry.
The IOPC investigation will examine the circumstances surrounding the police pursuit, including the decision-making process and whether proper procedures were followed. The watchdog has said it will look at all available evidence, including communications and vehicle data, to establish the full sequence of events.
The crash has reignited public debate about the safety of police pursuits and the handling of suspected organised crime operations. Local officials have called for a thorough review, while the police have stressed that the pursuit was initiated in response to serious criminal allegations. The families of the victims have asked for privacy as they come to terms with their loss.
As the investigation continues, the force has urged the public not to speculate on social media about the identities of those involved or the circumstances of the crash. Further arrests are possible, police have said, as detectives work to dismantle the networks believed to be connected to the incident. The fund remains open for those wishing to contribute.
