Girl who died after leaving police vehicle on M5 is named
British Broadcasting CorporationA teenage girl has died after being hit by a car after leaving a stationary police car on the M5.
Avon and Somerset Police said Tamzin Hall, 17, from Wellington, Somerset, was killed shortly after 23:00 GMT on Monday by a car heading towards Bridgwater. ) and junction 25 heading towards Taunton.
Police added that before the incident, she got out of a police car parked on the northbound side while being transported.
“We extend our condolences and sympathies to Tamzin’s family for their devastating loss,” police said.
Police reported the incident to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which is investigating the incident.
“A specially trained family liaison officer keeps in touch with them to keep them informed and provide support.
Police added: “The family asks for privacy at this difficult time.”
Avon and Somerset Police Assistant Chief Constable Jon Cummins released a statement on Tuesday, calling it a “very distressing incident” that “will undoubtedly cause huge shock among the public”.
The IOPC said two officers took the teenager from an address in Taunton to a holding cell in Bridgewater in a police car.
Just before 23:00, the police car was parked on the northbound carriageway of the motorway between junctions 25 and 24.
At this point, the teenager got out of the car and a short time later collided with a member of the public’s car on the southbound carriageway, the IOPC said.
Ambulances and paramedics were on scene within minutes, but Tamzin died at the scene.
‘A true tragedy’
IOPC director David Ford said the police watchdog’s role was to “independently investigate all circumstances surrounding this incident”.
“This was a truly tragic incident and my thoughts are with Tamzin’s family and friends and everyone affected by the events that night.
“We are contacting her family to express our sympathies, explain our role and explain how our investigation will progress. We will update them as the investigation continues.”
Ford said the IOPC has spoken to the officers involved and is in the process of obtaining statements from several witnesses.
He added that the coroner had been informed and a post-mortem examination had been carried out on Thursday afternoon.
