What happened to Tamzin Ellen Hall on the M5?

Tamzin Ellen Hall, a 17-year-old autistic girl, died on the M5 after she removed her handcuffs and jumped out of a moving police car.

Is the Avon and Somerset Police being investigated?

Yes, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is investigating the contact Avon and Somerset Police officers had with Tamzin before her death.

When will the inquest into Tamzin Hall's death take place?

A provisional date for the full jury inquest into Tamzin Hall's death has been set for January 11, 2027, at Wells Town Hall.

Home / Crime and Justice / Autistic Teen Escapes Handcuffs, Jumps from Moving Police Car

Autistic Teen Escapes Handcuffs, Jumps from Moving Police Car

7 Jan

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Summary

An inquest is underway into an autistic teen's death on the M5.
The 17-year-old removed handcuffs and exited a moving police car.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct is investigating the incident.

Autistic Teen Escapes Handcuffs, Jumps from Moving Police Car

An inquest has been opened into the death of Tamzin Ellen Hall, a 17-year-old autistic girl who tragically passed away on the M5 motorway on November 11, 2024. Tamzin suffered fatal injuries after exiting a moving Avon and Somerset Police car, having removed her handcuffs. The vehicle had stopped on the motorway between junctions 25 and 24 near Bridgwater.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is currently investigating the circumstances of Tamzin's death, including the interactions between two police officers and the teenager before she died. Reports indicate Tamzin managed to unlock her handcuffs and move from the rear to the front passenger seat before exiting the car. The police car had reportedly pulled over for safety reasons.

A provisional date for the full jury inquest has been set for January 11, 2027, at Wells Town Hall, expected to last two to three weeks. Tamzin's mother, Amy Hall, has spoken about her daughter's struggles with autism and mental health, expressing that she felt Tamzin was 'desperately failed' and questioning how the escape from the vehicle occurred.