A full jury inquest will be held into the death of a teenage girl who was struck and killed on the M5 motorway after fleeing from a police vehicle, a coroner has confirmed.
Inquest Date Set for 2027
Senior Coroner Samantha Marsh set a provisional date for the hearing during a pre-inquest review at Taunton Coroner’s Court on Tuesday, 6th January 2026. The inquest into the death of 17-year-old Tamzin Ellen Hall from Wellington, Somerset, is scheduled to begin on 11th January 2027 at Wells Town Hall and is expected to last between two and three weeks.
The tragic incident occurred shortly after 11pm on 11th November 2024. Tamzin was being transported in an Avon and Somerset Police car which had stopped on the M5 between junction 25 at Taunton and junction 24 at Bridgwater. While under arrest, she managed to exit the vehicle.
Family Clears Driver of Any Blame
In a significant statement, a representative for the Hall family attending Tuesday's hearing was keen to stress that the member of the public whose vehicle struck Tamzin bore no responsibility for her death. "The family are keen to emphasise that the driver involved was not at fault at all," the representative said.
An earlier inquest opening heard that after leaving the police car, Tamzin crossed the road and climbed the crash barrier. She was then hit by a vehicle travelling on the southbound carriageway, sustaining fatal injuries to her head, neck, and chest.
Watchdog Investigates Police Contact
The circumstances leading to Tamzin being on the motorway are under independent scrutiny. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is conducting an investigation into her death. This includes examining the contact that two Avon and Somerset Police officers had with Tamzin prior to the fatal collision.
A published IOPC report detailed how the teenager, who was handcuffed, was able to remove her restraints and climb from the rear passenger seat to the front passenger seat of the police car before making her escape.
In a heartfelt tribute issued previously, Tamzin's mother, Amy Hall, described her eldest daughter as her "best friend" and said the family were "devastated" by their loss. "Tamzin was the most kindest, caring, loving, loyal girl ever," Ms Hall said. "She was my shadow from the moment she opened her eyes in the morning until she went to sleep at night."
The final hearing in 2027, before a jury, will aim to establish the full facts surrounding this tragic case.
