Somerset: Teenage girl dies on M5 motorway after fleeing police vehicle

A 17-year-old girl who died after being hit by a car on the M5 motorway in Somerset had fled from a police vehicle moments before the collision.

The teenager was transported to custody when she got out of the Avon and Somerset police vehicle, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said.

The police vehicle had stopped on the northbound carriageway between junctions 25 and 24, Avon and Somerset Police said.

She was hit by a car on the southbound lane on Monday around 11 p.m.

Paramedics arrived on the highway within minutes, but the girl was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police said the victim’s family has been informed of the circumstances and described the teenager’s death as “tragic”.

An IOPC spokesperson said: “We have deployed our investigators to the police following the incident procedure to begin gathering evidence.

“Our condolences go out to the girl’s loved ones and everyone affected by her death.”

No one else was injured in the incident.

Avon and Somerset Police have made a mandatory referral of the matter to the IOPC, who are now investigating the incident.

The M5 was closed in both directions between junction 24 at Bridgwater and 25 at Taunton following the incident.

National Highways confirmed the highway reopened in both directions shortly after 11am on Tuesday.