The family of a teenage girl who tragically lost her life on a motorway while evading police has expressed that the driver should not be held responsible for the incident. Tamzin Ellen Hall, a 17-year-old from Wellington, Somerset, sustained fatal injuries when she was hit by a car on the M5 between junction 25 at Taunton and 24 at Bridgwater, late in the evening on November 11, 2024. At the time, she was under arrest and being transported in an Avon and Somerset Police vehicle that had come to a stop on the motorway.
During a preliminary hearing at Taunton Coroner’s Court, Senior Coroner Samantha Marsh announced that Tamzin’s death would be the subject of a jury inquest. The inquest is scheduled to take place on January 11, 2027, at Wells Town Hall and is expected to span two to three weeks.
The hearing was attended by members of Tamzin’s family, Avon and Somerset Police representatives, and the driver involved in the collision. A spokesperson for the Hall family stressed that the driver bore no responsibility for Tamzin’s untimely death.
Initial reports from the inquest revealed that Tamzin exited the police vehicle, crossed the road, and climbed a crash barrier before being struck by a passing vehicle on the southbound carriageway, resulting in fatal head, neck, and chest injuries.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding Tamzin’s death, particularly the interactions between two Avon and Somerset Police officers and Tamzin prior to the tragic incident.
An official report by the watchdog disclosed that Tamzin managed to free herself from handcuffs and move from the rear passenger seat to the front passenger seat of the police car before the accident occurred.
Amy Hall, Tamzin’s mother, previously described her daughter as her closest companion and expressed profound grief over the loss. Ms. Hall fondly remembered Tamzin as a kind, caring, and loyal individual with a great sense of humor and a unique outlook on life.
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