Inquest opens into the death of autistic teenage girl who was killed on M5 after jumping out of moving police car

Published: 15:43, 7 January 2026 | Updated: 15:54, 7 January 2026

An inquest has opened into the death of an autistic teenage girl who was killed on the M5 after she removed her handcuffs and jumped out of a moving police car.

Tamzin Ellen Hall, from Wellington, Somerset, suffered fatal injuries when she was struck by a vehicle on the motorway between junction 25 at Taunton and 24 at Bridgwater shortly after 11pm on November 11, 2024.

The 17-year-old had been under arrest at the time and was travelling in an Avon and Somerset Police car which stopped on the motorway.

During a pre-inquest review at Taunton Coroner's Court on Tuesday, senior coroner Samantha Marsh said the inquest into Tamzin's death would be heard by a jury.

She set a provisional date for the hearing of January 11, 2027 at Wells Town Hall, with the inquest expected to last between two and three weeks.

The hearing on Tuesday was attended by members of Tamzin's family, including her mother, representatives for Avon and Somerset Police, and the driver of the vehicle involved in the crash.

A representative for the Hall family said they were 'keen to emphasise' that the driver involved was 'not at fault at all' for Tamzin's death.

An inquest opening at Wells Town Hall previously heard Tamzin exited the car and crossed the road before climbing the crash barrier.

An inquest has opened into the death of an autistic teenage girl who was killed on the M5 after she removed her handcuffs and jumped out of a moving police car

The 17-year-old had been under arrest at the time and was travelling in an Avon and Somerset Police car which had stopped on the motorway. She is pictured here at a younger age

Tamzin Ellen Hall, from Wellington, Somerset, suffered fatal injuries when she was struck by a vehicle on the motorway (pictured) between junction 25 at Taunton and 24 at Bridgwater shortly after 11pm on November 11, last year

She was hit by a vehicle driven by a member of the public travelling on the southbound carriageway and sustained fatal head, neck and chest injuries.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is investigating her death as well as the contact two Avon and Somerset Police officers had with Tamzin before she died.

A report published by the watchdog detailed how the teenager was able to remove her handcuffs and climb from the rear passenger side seat to the front passenger seat of the police car.

Last year, Tamzin's mother Amy Hall claimed her daughter had been 'desperately failed'.

She said: 'She never got the right help, she never got listened to.'

Ms Hall suggested the teenager should have been transported in a police van instead of a car, in light of her high-risk behaviour.

'My question is - how did she manage to get out of the handcuffs and out of the car with two police officers?' she said.

Ms Hall added Tamzin had been diagnosed with autism and had serious mental health issues - but she had a great sense of humour and enjoyed happier times at points in her life.

Last year, Tamzin's mother Amy Hall (pictured) claimed her daughter had been 'desparately failed'

Tamzin's mother added she had a passion for cooking and also loved birds.

Her father died from cancer when she was just eight, according to Ms Hall, which had a big impact on her school life, with her often being sent out of the classroom.

She was then taken into a care home, which is where things went downhill, Ms Hall claimed, adding it was completely the wrong environment for her.

On the day her daughter died, Ms Hall reported that Tamzin had been behaving unusually and had been consuming alcohol.

An annual report published in July by the IOPC on deaths following police contact revealed more information on how Tamzin got out of the car.

The report, which does not name Tamzin, says: 'A female child was arrested for assault and criminal damage.

'She was placed in the rear passenger side of a marked police car and handcuffed with her hands positioned in front.

An officer was seated next to her during transport.

'While on her way to custody, the child managed to remove her handcuffs, climb into the front passenger seat, access the front passenger door and get out of the moving car.

In a tribute a couple of weeks after Tamzin's death, her mother said: 'Tamzin was the most kindest, caring, loving, loyal girl ever'

'The child ran across the road and was struck by a vehicle being driven by a member of the public, on the opposite carriageway. The child died at the scene.'

The IOPC also said the car had pulled over for 'safety reasons'.

In a tribute a couple of weeks after Tamzin's death, her mother said: 'Tamzin was the most kindest, caring, loving, loyal girl ever. She was the most honest person I've ever known; she was very special to me.

'She was my shadow from the moment she opened her eyes in the morning until she went to sleep at night.

She was such an intelligent young girl and had such interesting perceptions on things in life.'

She added: 'Tamzin was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, so she was unique and saw the world in such a different way.

'Tamzin was my absolute everything and I can't believe she isn't here anymore.

She was my world.

'She put her all into absolutely everything.

She loved helping out as a young child, if you set her a task, she would put her all into it and want it just right.'

References

^ NOOR QURASHI, NEWS REPORTER (www.dailymail.co.uk)