The family member said he “wants answers.”
A66 crash: Police cordon remains in place on Teeside
A family member of one of the five people killed in the wrong-way crash on the A66 has said that “lives might have been saved” if the police pursuit had been called off earlier.
Now, the cousin of Jacob Matusiak told Sky News that the family “want answers” regarding the incident and have asked police for the “full picture”.
They said: “We are just devastated for everyone involved. If he was at fault, he was at fault, but they need to give us the full picture.
“He was no saint and has been involved in stuff before – we know that – but we cannot believe this has happened.
“We all want answers – we were told the chase should have been called off earlier. If it had been called off earlier, lives might have been saved.”
Family of Jacob Matusiak have spoken out that they ‘want answers’ (Image: Supplied)
Pc Matthew Blades, 37, and Pc Tom Clough, 38, were killed when a Volkswagen Passat – which had been pursued by police – was driven the wrong way along a dual carriageway near Middlesbrough and hit their marked armed response vehicle.
The five people travelling in the Volkswagen – Cole Robert Worthy, 17, Theo Rae, 17, Makai Saddington, 18, and 23-year-olds Michael Robert Cahill and Jacob Matusiak – were pronounced dead at the scene at South Bank, early on Saturday.
Some of those arrested over the A66 investigation are suspected of “participating in the activities of an organised crime group,” the force also said.
Police also said that on Saturday morning (August 22), they received several reports of two vehicles being driven dangerously.
The first vehicle, which is believed to be a Volvo XC60, was seen ramming properties in the Middlesbrough area.
The second vehicle, a Volkswagen Passat, is believed to have been associated with the activities of the Volvo XC60.
A police statement read: “Nine men and three women, aged between 19 and 61, have been arrested on suspicion of several offences. Ranging from possession of a firearm to participating in the activities of an organised crime group.”
Cleveland Police also added that, at this time, there is no evidence to indicate that filming of the activities that took place on Friday night and Saturday morning was for the purposes of TikTok.