A grieving mother has accused authorities of "desperately failing" her teenage daughter, who died after escaping from a police car while handcuffed and being struck on the M5 motorway.
Tragic Events on the Motorway
Tamzin Hall, aged 17 from Wellington in Somerset, sustained fatal injuries when she was hit by a car on the M5 between junctions 25 (Taunton) and 24 (Bridgwater) shortly after 11pm on 11 November 2024. She was pronounced dead at the scene at 11.10pm. The catastrophic nature of her head, neck, and chest injuries meant she could only be formally identified through her fingerprints.
The tragedy unfolded after police were called to a disturbance at Tamzin's care home around 10.40pm. She was arrested on suspicion of assault and criminal damage. Officers from Avon and Somerset Police placed her in handcuffs, with her hands in front of her, and seated her in the rear of a marked police car with an officer beside her for transport to a custody suite in Bridgwater.
Escape and Investigation
During the journey along the M5, the vehicle pulled onto the northbound hard shoulder for what have been described as "safety reasons". Despite being restrained and accompanied, Tamzin managed to free herself from the handcuffs. She then climbed from the back seat into the front passenger seat, opened the door, and got out of the stationary vehicle.
After scaling the central crash barrier, she entered the southbound carriageway where she was struck. An Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) report detailed this sequence of events. The IOPC has served misconduct notices on two Avon and Somerset Police officers for a potential breach of their duties. This indicates their conduct is under formal scrutiny, though it does not guarantee disciplinary proceedings will follow.
A Mother's Anguish and Systemic Questions
Tamzin's mother, Amy Hall, has voiced profound criticism of the handling of her daughter's case. She questions how her daughter, known to be high-risk, was transported in a standard police car rather than a more secure van. "My question is – how did she manage to get out of the handcuffs and out of the car with two police officers?" she said.
Amy Hall described her daughter's struggles, which began after her father died from cancer when Tamzin was eight. Tamzin, who had autism and faced mental health challenges, later entered the care system. "You think of children that go into care because there's problems at home, but Tamzin came from a loving family home," her mother stated, adding that the care environment was "completely wrong" for her.
Reflecting on the day her daughter died, Amy noted she had sent "numerous messages" to care staff expressing concern about Tamzin's agitated and unusual behaviour, fearing they were ignored.
A pre-inquest review at Taunton Coroner's Court on 7 January 2026 heard that a full inquest into Tamzin's death will be held with a jury. A provisional date has been set for 11 January 2027 at Wells Town Hall, with the hearing expected to last two to three weeks. The Hall family's spokesperson has stressed that the driver of the car that struck Tamzin was "not at fault at all".
Avon and Somerset Police stated they are committed to assisting the IOPC enquiry and are supporting the welfare of the officers involved. A joint statement from Somerset Council, Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, and youth care charity Homes2Inspire said their thoughts remained with the family and that they are supporting the ongoing investigation.
