Teenage M5 crash victim was tasered before he died

He died after getting out of an ambulance on the motorway

12:04, 05 Dec 2025

An 18-year-old man who got out of an ambulance on the M5 was Tasered by police before he was hit by a car and killed, the police watchdog has said.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said it is investigating the actions and decisions taken by Avon and Somerset Police prior to the death of Logan Smith.

The teenager was being taken to hospital in an ambulance when it stopped on the hard shoulder at Weston-Super-Mare just after 11pm because of the concerns of paramedics.

Logan got out of the ambulance and was in the live lanes of the motorway.

The IOPC said ambulance staff called the police and a single-crewed officer arrived at the scene.

Body-worn video footage shows the officer attempting to engage with Mr Smith before later discharging their Taser, causing Logan to fall to the ground, the watchdog said.

He was struck by a car on the southbound carriageway shortly afterwards and died at the scene.

The IOPC said in a statement today: "We have established that Logan Smith, aged 18, and from Weston-super-Mare, was being taken to hospital in an ambulance when, just after 11pm, due to the concerns of ambulance staff, the vehicle stopped on the hard shoulder of the Northbound M5.

"Logan got out of the ambulance near the junction for Weston-super-Mare and entered the live lanes of the motorway. Ambulance staff called the police for assistance and a single-crewed officer arrived at the scene shortly after.

"Body-worn video footage we have viewed shows the officer attempted to engage with Logan and a short time later discharged their Taser, causing Logan to fall to the ground. Soon afterwards, he was struck by a car travelling along the southbound carriageway.

"Despite being given emergency first aid, Logan sadly died at the scene."

IOPC Director Derrick Campbell said: "My thoughts and sympathies are with Logan's family and friends and everyone affected by this shocking and tragic incident.

"We want to reassure everyone that we will independently investigate all the circumstances surrounding this incident, including the use of a Taser.

"After being notified by the force, we sent our investigators to the police post incident procedure to begin gathering evidence.

"We have taken initial accounts from the officer and ambulance staff involved.

"We met with Logan's family on Tuesday, to give our condolences, explain our role and to provide some further detail about our investigation, including a Taser being discharged during the incident.

We will continue to keep them updated and they request that their privacy be respected at such a difficult time."

The coroner has been informed and formal identification and a post-mortem have taken place.