Multiple people have died in a crash involving a police car in the early hours of this morning. 

The vehicle collided with a Volkswagen Passat on the A66 in South Bank, near Middlesbrough in Teesside, at around 3.40am.

The exact number of fatalities is yet to be confirmed and police are working to identify the victims. 

Cleveland Police told the Daily Mail it was initially believed three vehicles were involved in the collision, but they have now clarified it was two.  

The A66 is closed in both directions between Normanby Road and Church Lane and is expected to remain shut ‘for some time’.

A large number of emergency service vehicles are at the scene and motorists are being urged to use alternative routes. 

North East Ambulance Service said it sent 14 crews to the ‘serious’ crash and that ‘a number of patients had died’. 

Police are pictured at the site of the road closure on the A66 in Teesside this morning 

A large number of emergency service vehicles remain at the scene and motorists are being urged to use alternative routes

A spokesman for Cleveland Police said: ‘Around 3.39am this morning, a collision took place involving a police vehicle and a Volkswagen Passat on the A66 in South Bank.

‘Sadly, the collision has resulted in multiple fatalities. There are significant emergency vehicles on the scene, and the road will remain closed for some time.

‘The public are asked to use alternative routes.

‘We are working to identify the victims and contact their families. 

‘This is a quickly evolving incident and we ask that members of the public respectfully avoid speculation.’

A spokesman for North East Ambulance Service added: ‘We were called to a serious road traffic incident involving three vehicles on the A66 at South Bank at 3.39am on August 22.

‘We sent 14 ambulance resources at the scene, including emergency ambulance crews, a specialist paramedic, our hazardous area response team and a doctor from Great North Air Ambulance Service.

‘Sadly despite the best efforts of everyone attending, a number of patients died at the scene. 

‘We send condolences to all of those affected by such a tragic event and thank everyone for all they did to help.’

This is a breaking news story – more to follow