Four schools in the Middlesbrough area have announced early closures on Friday, 4 September 2026, citing safety concerns and expected traffic disruption related to a funeral. The funeral is for Jakub Matusiak, 23, one of five young men who died in a head-on collision with a marked police car on the A66.
The crash, which also killed two police officers, PC Matthew Blades, 37, and PC Tom Clough, 38, occurred near South Bank on 22 August when a Volkswagen Passat travelled the wrong way on the dual carriageway. Headteachers and Redcar and Cleveland Council made the decision to close schools early due to expectations of large crowds gathering in the South Bank area.
South Bank Primary School, Outwood Academy Normanby, Archway Academy in Teesville, and St Margaret Clitherow's Catholic Primary School in South Bank are among those closing early. Cleveland Police stated they have plans in place to ensure public safety and anticipate traffic disruption and delays from 15:00 to 17:00 on Friday, affecting areas including South Bank, Normanby Road, Teesville, Ormesby, Marton, and Acklam Road.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct reported that the Passat was being pursued by police until 10 seconds before the crash and was believed to be using cloned registration plates. Following the crash, 27 people have been arrested as part of a wider police operation against organised crime.