Teenage girl killed on M5 in Somerset after getting out of police car had autism spectrum disorder
A 17-year-old girl who died after fleeing a police vehicle on the M5 motorway had been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, her mother has said.
Tamzin Hall, from Wellington, was hit by a car on the M5 between junction 25 at Taunton and 24 at Bridgwater shortly after 11pm on 11 November and sustained fatal injuries.
She had been under arrest at the time and was travelling in an Avon and Somerset Police car which had stopped on the motorway, an inquest at Wells Town Hall heard.
Tamzin's mother Amy Hall paid tribute to her "very special" daughter after the hearing, describing her as her "best friend".
"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 said.
"She had a great sense of humour, and we had many laughs together."
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 any more. She was my world."
She said: "She was only 17 but she has taught me a lot and I can use that memory and hold on to that.
"I will never ever get over it, she was taken far too young."
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Student was crossing lane as she was hit by car
Tamzin was being taken to a custody suite in Bridgwater by two officers in a police car from an address in Taunton and the vehicle stopped on the northbound carriageway shortly after 11pm, the inquest opening heard.
Coroner's officer Ben Batley said the student got out of the car, crossed the northbound lane, climbed the barrier and made her way across the southbound lane, where she was hit by a car.
He told the hearing: "Her injuries were not survivable and Tamzin was declared deceased where she was found on the motorway."
A post-mortem examination gave a provisional cause of death as head, neck and chest injuries, pending further investigations.
'Mental health history' will be considered
Avon and Somerset Police and the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) were investigating the circumstances of the collision, Mr Batley confirmed.
Samantha Marsh, senior coroner for Somerset, adjourned the case until a pre-inquest review hearing on 5 November next year.
She said "Tamzin's presentation, with regard to any potential mental health history" would be among background information considered as part of the inquiry.
Also to be examined are the circumstances of Tamzin's arrest as well as her transportation, how she left the police car and what happened afterwards.
