The family of a girl who tragically lost her life on a motorway while evading police have stated that the driver bears no responsibility for the incident. Tamzin Ellen Hall, a 17-year-old from Wellington, Somerset, was fatally injured 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 of the accident, Tamzin was under arrest and being transported in an Avon and Somerset Police vehicle that had pulled over on the motorway.
During a preliminary hearing at Taunton Coroner’s Court, Senior Coroner Samantha Marsh announced that Tamzin’s inquest would be heard by a jury. The inquest is scheduled to commence on January 11, 2027, at Wells Town Hall and is expected to span two to three weeks.
Present at the hearing were members of Tamzin’s family, including her mother, representatives from Avon and Somerset Police, and the driver involved in the collision. A spokesperson for the Hall family emphasized that the driver should not be blamed for Tamzin’s death.
Earlier at Wells Town Hall, an inquest revealed that Tamzin exited the police vehicle, crossed the road, and climbed the crash barrier before being struck by a vehicle traveling southbound on the motorway, resulting in fatal head, neck, and chest injuries.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is conducting an investigation into Tamzin’s death, focusing on the interactions that two Avon and Somerset Police officers had with her before the tragic incident. A report by the watchdog disclosed that Tamzin managed to free herself from handcuffs and move from the back to the front seat of the police car.
Amy Hall, Tamzin’s mother, expressed deep sorrow over the loss of her eldest daughter, describing her as a kind, loving, and loyal individual with a great sense of humor and intelligence. Tamzin was cherished by her family and deeply missed.