Kathmandu— Seven people, including two police officers, died in a head-on collision Saturday near Middlesbrough in northeast England after a vehicle driving on the wrong side of the road collided with a marked police car during a pursuit. All occupants of both vehicles were pronounced dead at the scene, according to Cleveland Police. The incident follows similar crashes in Ireland where authorities have linked the dangerous behavior to a social media trend.

Details of the Crash

The collision occurred around 3:39am GMT when a Volkswagen Passat traveling on the wrong side of the road collided with the police vehicle. Five members of the public were in the Passat at the time, and officers had initiated a pursuit after spotting what they described as a “suspicious vehicle.” Cleveland Police Chief Constable Victoria Fuller stated that this was an “incredibly sad day” for the force.

Victims Identified

The two deceased police officers have been formally identified as constables Matthew Blades, 37, and Tom Clough, 38. Chief Constable Fuller described them as “brave officers … who didn’t return home to their families at the end of their shift.” Police are in the process of contacting the families of those traveling in the Volkswagen Passat.

Echoes of Irish Incidents

This crash is part of a disturbing pattern, following two similar head-on collisions near Dublin within the past week. Authorities in Ireland have pointed to a social media trend encouraging ‘wrong-side’ driving among young people as a potential cause. Irish Prime Minister Michael Martin condemned the behavior, stating, “There can be no tolerance for this reckless behaviour that we have seen on our roads recently. It must stop.”

Social Media Scrutiny

Irish police chief Justin Kelly noted the alarming fact that some instances of this dangerous driving are being done “for social media”. An Irish parliament committee and the country’s media regulator have both requested explanations from TikTok regarding its content moderation policies, specifically how it removes videos glorifying illegal and dangerous road behavior.

Investigations into the exact circumstances surrounding the crash in England are ongoing. Authorities continue to urge drivers to exercise caution and refrain from participating in dangerous online trends.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.