A coroner's court has heard the harrowing details of how a 17-year-old girl, who had been arrested, managed to free herself from handcuffs, escape a moving police vehicle, and was then fatally struck by a car on the M5 motorway.
The Fatal Night on the M5
Tamzin Hall, a student from Wellington in Somerset, died from catastrophic injuries at approximately 11:10pm on November 11, 2024. The tragedy unfolded after police were called to a disturbance at her care home around 10:40pm that evening. Tamzin was arrested on suspicion of assault and criminal damage.
She was placed in the back of a marked Avon and Somerset Police car, handcuffed with her hands in front, and an officer sat beside her for the journey to a custody suite in Bridgwater. The route took the vehicle onto the M5. For what have been described as "safety reasons", the car pulled over onto the northbound hard shoulder between junctions 25 (Taunton) and 24 (Bridgwater).
Despite being restrained, Tamzin managed to remove her handcuffs. She then climbed from the rear passenger seat into the front passenger seat, opened the door, and got out of the vehicle. After scaling the central crash barrier, she entered the southbound carriageway where she was hit by a car. Her injuries to the head, neck, and chest were so severe she had to be formally identified using her fingerprints.
Inquest and Independent Investigation
A pre-inquest review was held at Taunton Coroner’s Court on January 7, 2026. Senior coroner Samantha Marsh stated the full inquest into Tamzin's death would be heard by a jury. A provisional date has been set for January 11, 2027, at Wells Town Hall, with the hearing expected to last up to three weeks.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is conducting an investigation. Its report detailed the sequence of events leading to Tamzin's escape. As a result, two officers have been served with misconduct notices for a potential breach of their duties. The serving of notices does not guarantee disciplinary action will follow but confirms their conduct is under scrutiny.
A family representative was clear that the driver of the vehicle which struck Tamzin bore no responsibility for her death.
A Mother's Anguish and Systemic Questions
Tamzin's mother, Amy Hall, has accused the authorities of "desperately failing" her daughter. She believes that given Tamzin's known high-risk behaviour, she should have been transported in a secure police van rather than a car. "My question is – how did she manage to get out of the handcuffs and out of the car with two police officers?" she asked.
Amy described her daughter as autistic and struggling with mental health issues, challenges that began after her father died from cancer when she was eight. Tamzin's behaviour at school was misunderstood as disobedience rather than stemming from anxiety and overwhelm, leading to her being placed in care.
"She came from a loving family home... Then suddenly she was taken away from me," Amy said, expressing frustration with the care system. On the day of her death, Amy had sent multiple messages to care staff voicing serious concerns about Tamzin's agitated and "very strange" behaviour, fearing they were ignored.
Avon and Somerset Police expressed condolences, stating they are committed to assisting the IOPC enquiry and supporting the welfare of the officers involved. A joint spokesperson for Somerset Council, Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, and care charity Homes2Inspire said their thoughts were with the family and they are supporting the IOPC investigation.
