Dozens of mourners gathered at Teesside Crematorium on Wednesday to say their final goodbyes to 18-year-old Makai Saddington, the third passenger from a Volkswagen Passat involved in the fatal A66 crash to be buried.
Saddington was one of five young men killed in the wrong-way collision in Middlesbrough during the early hours of August 22.
The crash also claimed the lives of two Cleveland Police officers who were travelling in a marked armed response vehicle.
White Horse-Drawn Carriage Carries Saddington’s Coffin
Mourners began arriving by car shortly after 11.20am for Saddington’s funeral.
His white coffin was later brought to the crematorium in a white horse-drawn carriage pulled by two horses decorated with blue feathers.
Blue and white floral arrangements were placed on the carriage, including one bearing the words “my boy”, as family and friends gathered to remember the teenager.
Saddington died alongside Cole Robert Worthy, 17, Theo Rae, 17, Michael Robert Cahill, 23, and Jakub Matusiak, 23. PC Matthew Blades, 37, and PC Tom Clough, 38, were also killed in the devastating collision.
Funeral Comes Amid Row Over Early School Closures
Saddington’s funeral comes just days after a political dispute erupted over the decision by several schools in Middlesbrough and neighbouring areas to close early for the funerals of other crash victims.
Unlike the previous services, it is understood that no schools opted to close early on Wednesday for Saddington’s funeral.
The controversy began when schools altered their timetables ahead of Matusiak’s funeral on Friday and Rae’s service on Tuesday, citing concerns about potential traffic disruption and delays.
Four Schools Sent Pupils Home Early for Rae’s Funeral
Four schools in the Acklam area closed earlier than usual ahead of Rae’s funeral.
Outwood Academy Acklam finished at 12.15pm, while Newham Bridge Primary School ended its day at 1pm.
Acklam Whin Primary School and Green Lane School closed at 1.15pm after pupils had eaten lunch.
Middlesbrough Council said the decisions had been made by individual schools because of concerns about localised traffic disruption.
The closures came only days after schools in neighbouring South Bank had also sent pupils home early ahead of Matusiak’s funeral.
Conservative Criticism Intensifies
The decision prompted strong criticism from Conservative politicians, with Tory leader Kemi Badenoch describing the school closures as “obscene”.
Badenoch argued that schools should remain open and accused the Labour government of allowing criminality to affect the lives of law-abiding families. She also criticised Education Secretary Lucy Powell for not intervening.
The Conservative leader said the closures risked creating a dangerous precedent and argued that they were particularly inappropriate given that two police officers had died in the crash.
Lucy Powell Defends Headteachers
Powell rejected Badenoch’s criticism, accusing the Conservative leader of attempting to score political points.
The Education Secretary said the government had been working with headteachers, schools and local authorities in Middlesbrough and Redcar and Cleveland to support schools in remaining open while also addressing sensitive child-protection concerns.
Powell maintained that the decisions facing headteachers were difficult but said she had been assured that further closures would not be necessary.
Downing Street Says Children Belong in Classrooms
Downing Street also reiterated that children should remain in school wherever possible.
The Prime Minister‘s official spokesman said the government’s position was that classrooms were the appropriate place for pupils and that any disruption to their education should be kept to a minimum.
However, he acknowledged that authorities were dealing with exceptional local circumstances and said decisions had been made by headteachers in consultation with local councils.
Previous Funerals Drew Large Crowds
Rae’s funeral on Tuesday attracted a large procession as family and friends gathered to honour the 17-year-old.
Five black funeral cars followed a horse-drawn carriage carrying his coffin into the crematorium, while mourners were seen travelling in vehicles behind the cortege.
A silver BMW displayed personalised registration plates featuring “RIP” and “THEO”, while a van at the rear carried floral tributes spelling “nephew”.
Rae had been close friends with fellow crash victim Worthy, whose funeral is scheduled to take place on Thursday.
Matusiak Remembered in South Bank
Matusiak’s funeral took place on Friday at St John the Evangelist Church in South Bank, Middlesbrough.
Hundreds of mourners lined the streets, many wearing black and orange in tribute to the 23-year-old’s favourite colour.
His light-oak coffin, marked with the word “son”, was transported in a white horse-drawn hearse decorated with white and orange flowers spelling “Dad”.
The funeral cortege included several luxury vehicles, including an Aston Martin, Lamborghini and Rolls-Royce.
Cleveland Police later said the service had passed without issue and that there had been very little traffic disruption.
Saddington Had Been Awaiting Trial
Following the fatal crash, it emerged that Saddington had been awaiting trial over allegations that he racially abused and assaulted police officers.
The 18-year-old made his first appearance before Teesside magistrates on July 17, with the case subsequently adjourned.
Police Officers’ Funerals Also Due
The funerals of the remaining crash victims will continue in the coming days.
Worthy’s funeral is scheduled for Thursday, while services for PC Blades and PC Clough are also expected to take place this week as families, friends and colleagues continue to mourn the seven lives lost in the A66 tragedy.
