Four Middlesbrough Schools to Close Early for Jakub Matusiak Funeral

Four Middlesbrough schools will close early on Friday afternoon ahead of the funeral for 23-year-old Jakub Matusiak, one of five young men killed in an A66 wrong-way crash. Local authorities and Cleveland Police expect traffic congestion and large crowds along Normanby Road and surrounding areas during the memorial.

School Closures and Traffic Disruption in Middlesbrough

Four schools in Middlesbrough have announced plans to shut their doors at midday on Friday as the community prepares for the funeral of Jakub Matusiak, also known as Jacob, who died following an August collision on the A66 dual carriageway. The early dismissal affects South Bank Primary School, Outwood Academy in Normanby, and other nearby institutions, as educators and local officials coordinate to manage expected crowds.

In a message posted to social media, South Bank Primary School head teacher Tammy Cooper said: A funeral is being held locally at St John's church on Normanby Road that day and we are expecting large numbers of people in the area which will inevitably cause congestion and transport disruption in the immediate area. Ms Cooper also noted that some pupils may feel upset or anxious about the funeral taking place locally and stated that the school’s pastoral team would be available for support. Mark Robinson, principal of Outwood Academy in Normanby, explained in a letter to parents that the school would shut from midday after talks between local headteachers and the council.

A spokesperson for Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council stated: A number of schools in the South Bank area will close earlier than usual on Friday afternoon due to anticipated traffic congestion and transport disruption associated with a local funeral taking place in the area. The spokesperson added: “The decision was made after careful consideration of the potential impact on home-to-school transport and the departure of pupils, staff and families at the end of the school day. Schools have worked with the Local Authority and transport providers to consider arrangements for pupils, including those who travel to and from specialist educational settings. We recognise that early closure may cause inconvenience for some parents and carers, and we thank them for their understanding and cooperation.”

Supt John Wrintmore from Cleveland Police warned of potential traffic disruption and delays from 15:00 to 17:00 on Friday. This will affect areas of South Bank, Normanby Road through Teesville, Ormesby and Marton, and Acklam Road, he said. “We are working closely with highways departments from the local authority, who are leading on the traffic management for this event, in order to minimise disruption. As with any significant gathering, we have plans in place to ensure public safety and security, which is line with our usual process.”

Crowds, motorbikes, and quad bikes are set to congregate in Normanby Road, South Bank, as part of the funeral events.

Background on the A66 Collision and Investigation

The funeral is the first to take place following a head-on collision on 22 August on the A66 dual carriageway near Middlesbrough. The crash involved a Volkswagen Passat traveling the wrong way down the road and a marked police car. Five men inside the Volkswagen Passat—Jakub Matusiak (23), Cole Worthy (17), Theo Rae (17), Makai Saddington (18), and Michael Cahill (23)—were pronounced dead at the scene. Two police officers in the other vehicle, PC Matthew Blades (37) and PC Tom Clough (38), were also killed in the collision.

According to Cleveland Police, the five men may have had links to serious and organised criminal activity. The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, reported that the Volkswagen Passat was being pursued by police until 10 seconds before the crash and was believed to be using cloned registration plates.

A wider police operation against organised crime following the crash has resulted in at least 27 arrests. Additionally, around 200 police officers from outside Cleveland Police have been drafted in to help the force tackle organised crime.

Wider Community Impact and Government Response

The events surrounding the crash have sparked public and political reactions. A vigil held last week for Michael Cahill was followed by disorder in Haswell, County Durham, where a number of cars were set on fire, prompting criticism from MPs and police.

Five young men in their late teens and early 20s. They all have similar haircuts, with a fringe and faded back and sides — Photo: bbc.co.uk

In response to incidents in and around Middlesbrough, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced that Cleveland Police is getting an extra £2m to tackle serious crime. Meanwhile, an online appeal established by the Police Federation to support the families of the two deceased officers reached more than £1.2m before closing, with organizers describing the public response as truly overwhelming.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy announced plans to meet TikTok in the coming days, stating that more work is needed to address an “epidemic” of young people utilizing social media to encourage dangerous behaviour. Reports indicated that a social media account thought to have belonged to one of the five deceased men posted videos last year that appeared to show dangerous driving; those videos have since been removed.