Death of man who fell onto M4 near Bristol referred to police watchdog

The death of a man who fell onto the M4 near Bristol has been referred to the police watchdog. The man, aged in his 40s, died after falling from a height before being hit by vehicles on Saturday evening (February 22). Avon and Somerset Police have confirmed that a mandatory referral has been made to the Independent Office for Police Conduct after previous police contact.

It has been reported that the man had been arrested just hours before his death [1] after an online "predator sting". Police have asked the public not to speculate to respect the privacy of the man's family. It was reported that the group that confronted him also asked people to "allow his family to grieve in a respectful manner".

Avon and Somerset Police said: "We are grateful to members of the public who have come forward with information following the death of a man on the M4 motorway on Saturday (22 February). We understand from witnesses a man in his 40s fell from a height at around 6.40pm and was subsequently struck by vehicles travelling between junctions 20 (Almondsbury) and 21 (Awkley). "The death is being treated as non-suspicious and his next of kin are being offered support during this difficult time.

Our thoughts any sympathies remain with them. A mandatory referral has been made to the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC) following previous police contact. "We understand this incident may be distressing for some people and we urge you to seek support should you need it.

You can speak with your GP or reach out to charities such as MIND and Samaritans, who offer support online and over the phone. "We would ask people not to speculate during this time and to respect the family's privacy. We would like to thank people for their patience and understanding while the road closures were in place.

We understand this would have had an impact on many road users and we thank you for bearing with us."

References

^ the man had been arrested just hours before his death (www.bristolpost.co.uk)