Hundreds of people gathered in Middlesbrough for the funeral of Jakub Matusiak, a 23-year-old who died in a tragic wrong-way collision on the A66 motorway on August 22. The crash claimed seven lives, including two police officers, PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough, and four other young men: Cole Worthy, 17, Theo Rae, 17, Makai Saddington, 18, and Michael Cahill, 23. Matusiak was one of five passengers in a Volkswagen Passat that was traveling in the wrong direction when it collided with a marked police car. The funeral took place at St John the Evangelist Church in the South Bank area, where mourners dressed in black or Matusiak’s favorite color, orange, gathered for a large-scale ceremony. Known to many as Jacob, Matusiak’s coffin was adorned with orange and white flowers, and the words “son” were engraved on the side. A procession of two white horses led the way through the streets, followed by a white Rolls-Royce and a Lamborghini. The event drew significant attention, with local authorities preparing for potential disruptions. To manage the expected crowds, Normanby Road near the church was closed by the council, and Cleveland Police warned of traffic delays between 3pm and 5pm. Normanby Medical Centre closed early at 1pm after careful consideration of the situation. Superintendent John Wrintmore confirmed that a visible police presence would be maintained in the area to ensure public safety. In response to concerns about congestion and transport disruption, several local schools closed early or partially. These included Archway Academy Teesville, South Bank Primary School, and others, with South Bank Primary School closing at 12:15pm to ensure the safety and wellbeing of students. Matusiak’s funeral followed a controversial memorial event near the crash site, which began with the release of orange balloons but escalated into the use of flares, fireworks, and a group of masked motorbikers riding through the streets. Some local residents criticized the event as disrespectful, contrasting it with the quiet, solemn vigils held for the two police officers who lost their lives. Meanwhile, a fundraiser launched in memory of PC Blades and PC Clough has already surpassed £1.2 million, with donations continuing to pour in. The funds will be split equally between the two officers’ families.