Cumbria Schools Close Early for Funeral of A66 Crash Victim Theo Rae

Multiple schools across Cumbria are scheduled for early closure today to accommodate the funeral of Theo Rae, aged 19. Mr. Rae was among seven individuals who perished in a head-on collision on the A66 near Bowscar, Penrith, on 26 May. The incident involved a Ford Transit van, which reportedly entered the dual carriageway heading eastbound in the westbound lane, colliding with a Mercedes Sprinter and a Vauxhall Movano.

The service for Mr. Rae is set to take place at Carlisle Cathedral at 13:00 BST. Cumbria Police confirmed the attendance of a marked police vehicle as a mark of respect, following the cathedral service.

Earlier this week, a separate funeral for another victim of the same collision, Michael “Toddy” Evans, aged 60, also saw early school closures in the Wigton area. The unprecedented scale of these local closures underscores the profound impact of the incident on the community.