Several schools in Middlesbrough have decided to close early on Monday due to expected traffic disruptions caused by the funeral of Theo Rae, one of seven people who died in a serious crash on the A66 near Middlesbrough on August 22. The accident involved a Volkswagen Passat traveling the wrong way on the A66, colliding with a Cleveland Police vehicle and killing Theo Rae and four other people in the car, as well as two police officers, PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough. Rae's funeral will take place at Teesside Crematorium in Acklam on Monday afternoon, with the procession expected to travel through parts of Middlesbrough before arriving at St Bede's Chapel on Acklam Road. To manage the anticipated traffic, several schools in the area have opted for early closures. Outwood Academy Acklam finished at 12:15 pm, while Newham Bridge Primary School closed at 1:00 pm. Acklam Whin Primary School and Green Lane School in Acklam ended classes at 1:15 pm. These decisions were made to ensure the safe travel of students and staff, with schools citing the need to avoid delays caused by the funeral procession. Middlesbrough Council stated that schools made the closures based on the potential for "localised traffic disruption leading to delays later in the afternoon." Cleveland Police confirmed that the school closures were not recommended by the force, but officers are working with local organizations to prepare for the event. Superintendent John Wrintmore mentioned that there will be a "proportionate visible police presence" in affected areas to ensure public safety. The funeral procession is expected to travel through several key roads, including Ladgate Lane, Ormesby Road, Cargo Fleet Lane, and Acklam Road. Similar early closures were also seen in neighboring South Bank on Friday for the funeral of Jakub Matusiak, another victim of the crash, which police said caused only minimal disruption. However, the decision to close schools again has sparked a political debate. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch criticized the closures, calling it "obscene" that schools were closing again in the area. In response, Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland MP Luke Myer accused Badenoch of trying to "score political points" while the community is still dealing with the tragedy. In the aftermath of the crash, several individuals have been arrested as part of an ongoing police investigation into organized crime. The inquiry into the incident is continuing, with authorities working to uncover any connections between the crash and criminal activity.