A teenage boy died after being struck by a car on the M5 in Somerset, following an incident where police officers discharged a Taser at him, an official watchdog has confirmed.
Sequence of Events on the Motorway
Logan Smith, aged 18 from Weston-super-Mare, lost his life on the southbound carriageway near the junction for his hometown. The tragedy unfolded late on 30 November when an ambulance transporting him to hospital pulled onto the hard shoulder of the northbound M5 due to concerns raised by paramedics.
According to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), Smith exited the ambulance and walked onto the live lanes of the motorway. Paramedics alerted Avon and Somerset Police at approximately 11pm, with an officer arriving swiftly at the scene.
Police Intervention and Fatal Collision
The IOPC stated that body-worn video footage from the attending officer shows an attempt to engage with Smith before a Taser was deployed. The discharge caused the teenager to fall to the ground.
Tragically, at that location, Smith was then hit by a car travelling on the southbound carriageway. Despite emergency first aid administered at the scene, he was pronounced dead.
Independent Investigation and Family Liaison
Derrick Campbell, IOPC Director, expressed his sympathies to Logan Smith's family and friends. He emphasised the watchdog's commitment to an independent investigation. "We will independently investigate all the circumstances surrounding this incident, including the use of a Taser," Campbell said.
IOPC investigators were sent to the police post-incident procedure and have gathered initial accounts from the officer and ambulance staff involved. The watchdog has met with Smith's family to offer condolences and explain its investigative role.
Avon and Somerset Police had previously stated that the officer's actions were an attempt to bring Smith to safety and reduce risk to him and the public. Assistant Chief Constable Joanne Hall confirmed the force's mandatory referral to the IOPC and pledged full cooperation with the inquiry.
The coroner has been informed, and formal identification along with a postmortem examination have been completed.
