The police watchdog has launched an independent investigation after a teenager, who was tasered by an officer on a motorway, was fatally hit by a car.
Tragic Sequence of Events on M5
The incident occurred on Sunday night, around 11pm, on the M5 in Somerset. Logan Smith, 18, was being transported to hospital in an ambulance when the vehicle stopped on the hard shoulder of the northbound carriageway.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) stated the ambulance stopped "due to the concerns of ambulance staff". Near the junction for Weston-super-Mare, Mr Smith exited the ambulance and entered the live lanes of the motorway.
Police Response and Taser Discharge
Officers from Avon and Somerset Police were called to the scene. According to the IOPC, body-worn camera footage shows an officer arriving and discharging their Taser, which caused the 18-year-old to fall to the ground.
Soon afterwards, Logan Smith was struck by a car travelling on the southbound carriageway. The IOPC confirmed it is examining the "actions and decisions taken by Avon and Somerset Police prior to the death".
Investigation and Family Liaison
IOPC Director Derrick Campbell expressed his sympathies to Logan's family and friends. "We want to reassure everyone that we will independently investigate all the circumstances surrounding this incident, including the use of a Taser," he said.
The watchdog's investigators were sent to the police post-incident procedure to gather evidence. They have already taken initial accounts from the officer and ambulance staff involved.
The IOPC met with Logan Smith's family on Tuesday to offer condolences, explain its role, and provide details of the investigation. The family has requested privacy during this difficult time.
The coroner has been informed, and formal identification along with a post-mortem examination have been conducted.
