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Four schools in the Middlesbrough area will close early on Friday as authorities prepare for large crowds and significant traffic disruption linked to the funeral of 23-year-old Jakub Matusiak, one of seven people killed in the A66 crash.
The funeral is due to take place at St John’s Church on Normanby Road in South Bank, with Cleveland Police warning that roads across South Bank, Teesville, Ormesby, Marton and Acklam could face delays between 15:00 and 17:00.
South Bank Primary School, Outwood Academy Normanby, Archway Academy and St Margaret Clitherow’s Catholic Primary School have all announced earlier closures because of concerns about the movement of pupils, staff and families during the expected disruption.
The decision followed discussions between local head teachers and Redcar and Cleveland Council, with schools also considering the potential effect on children who use specialist transport services.
The measures come after the fatal collision on 22 August, when a Volkswagen Passat travelled the wrong way along the A66 and collided head-on with a marked police car. Five young men in the Passat died, along with Cleveland Police officers PC Matthew Blades, 37, and PC Tom Clough, 38.
