The accident occurred on the A66 on Saturday morning.
A marked police car collided with another car that was travelling in the wrong direction. In addition to the two police officers, all five people in the oncoming car died in the violent crash.
The police's internal investigations unit says, according to Sky News, that preliminary information indicates the police car "detected a suspicious vehicle and initiated a pursuit."
"No one should have to leave their home and not return home, including police officers who serve their communities and protect the people of Cleveland," said Victoria Fuller, chief of the Cleveland Metropolitan Police Department.
