Funeral of A66 crash youth forces schools in Middlesbrough to close early amid ‘safety’ fears – after previous vigils and tributes descended into chaos
Schools in Middlesbrough are closing early for pupil safety ahead of the funeral of Jakub Matusiak, one of five young men killed in a head-on crash with a police vehicle on the A66. The service, taking place at St John the Evangelist Church in South Bank, is expected to draw large crowds, motorbikes and quad bikes, following earlier vigils and memorials that saw off-road vehicles tearing through estates, flares set off and cars set alight, raising fears of further disruption or violence.
Matusiak, 23, died alongside Cole Worthy, 17, Theo Rae, 17, Makai Saddington, 18, Michael Cahill, 23, and two Cleveland Police officers, PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough, when a stolen Volkswagen Passat crashed into a marked police car on 22 August. At least four schools, including South Bank Primary, are shutting early on Friday, citing both anticipated congestion and pupils' emotional wellbeing. Cleveland Police has arrested 27 people over organised crime linked to the aftermath and drafted in over 200 extra officers, while a fundraiser for the officers' families has passed £1.2 million.
- Middlesbrough schools close early over Jakub Matusiak's funeral safety fears
- Previous vigils for A66 crash victims turned violent and chaotic
- Police have arrested 27 people amid a major crackdown
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The A66 is a major road through Teesside, where Middlesbrough and nearby South Bank are located. On 22 August, five young men and two Cleveland Police officers died when a stolen car and a marked police car collided head-on. Jakub Matusiak, aged 23, was among those killed.
The deaths led to public vigils and memorials, some of which were disrupted by off-road vehicles, flares and car fires. Police have made arrests over organised crime connected with events after the crash, and the planned funeral is expected to attract a large crowd. The school closures reflect concerns about traffic, safety and how pupils may be affected by the occasion.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Closing schools early can be defended as a proportionate precaution when a funeral is expected to draw large crowds and earlier memorials involved dangerous driving, fires and other disorder. It may reduce pupils’ exposure to disruption, ease pressure around the church and roads, and give families reassurance while police manage an unusually demanding event.
The case against
Early closures can disrupt children’s learning and create practical difficulties for parents, while the reported risks may not materialise near every school. A critic could argue that targeted traffic measures and policing would protect pupils while keeping schools open, and that closures risk amplifying alarm or unfairly associating mourners with the disorder seen at earlier gatherings.