Teenager tasered on M5 by police before being fatally struck by car
An 18-year-old teenager who got out of an ambulance on the M5 was tasered by police before crashing into a car and dying, a police watchdog said.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said it was investigating the actions and decisions taken by Avon and Somerset Police before the death of Logan Smith on the motorway near Weston-super-Mare on Sunday.
While the young man was being taken to hospital by ambulance, the ambulance came to a crashing halt just after 11pm due to concerns from paramedics.
Logan exited the ambulance near the Weston-super-Mare junction and was on the live lanes of the motorway.
The IOPC said ambulance staff called police and a lone police officer arrived at the scene.
The watchdog said body-worn video footage showed the officer attempting to engage Mr. Smith and then discharged his stun gun, causing Logan to fall to the ground.
A short time later, he died at the scene after being hit by a car in the south direction.
IOPC Director Derrick Campbell said: “My thoughts and sympathies are with Logan’s family and friends and everyone affected by this shocking and tragic incident.
“We would like to reassure everyone that we will independently investigate all the circumstances surrounding this incident, including the use of a Taser.
“Once notified by the force, we sent our investigators to the post-incident police to begin collecting evidence.
“We received the first accounts from the relevant officers and ambulance workers.
“We met with Logan’s family on Tuesday to express our condolences, explain our role and provide more details about our investigation, including the discharge of a Taser at the time of the incident.
“We will continue to keep them updated and they request that their privacy be respected at such a difficult time.”
An IOPC spokesman said the coroner was notified and formal identification and an autopsy were carried out.
