A66 crash: Watchdog investigating after multiple people killed in police pursuit on Teesside

Multiple people have died after a crash involving a car and a police vehicle in the early hours of this morning, Cleveland Police have said.

The force said a police vehicle and a Volkswagen Passat were caught up in the fatal crash at about 3.39am on the A66 in South Bank, near Middlesbrough in Teesside.

The road remains closed and there is a significant emergency response at the scene.

A Cleveland Police spokesperson said: "Around 3:39am this morning, a collision took place involving a police vehicle and a Volkswagen Passat on the A66 in South Bank.

"Sadly, the collision has resulted in multiple fatalities. There are significant emergency vehicles on the scene, and the road will remain closed for some time.

"The public are asked to use alternative routes.

"We are working to identify the victims and contact their families. This is a quickly evolving incident and we ask that members of the public respectfully avoid speculation."