A teenage girl who fled a stationary police vehicle on the M5 and was fatally struck by a car has been named as Tamzin Hall.

The 17-year-old from Wellington, Somerset, died after being struck by a vehicle travelling southbound on the motorway between Bridgwater and Taunton shortly after 11pm on Monday.

A mandatory referral was made to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) watchdog because of the recent prior police contact.

Hall was being transported to custody in a police vehicle and left the vehicle on the northbound side of the motorway shortly before the collision, police said.

Avon and Somerset police said: “Our thoughts and sympathies go out to Tamzin’s family for their devastating loss. A specially trained family liaison officer remains in contact with them to keep them updated and to provide support. The family have asked for privacy at this difficult time.”

The incident led to the closure of the motorway in both directions on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.

An IOPC spokesperson said on Tuesday: “We have started an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of a 17-year-old girl who was struck by a vehicle on the M5 near Taunton last night.

“We were advised by Avon and Somerset police that the girl was being transported to custody in a police vehicle and had got out of the vehicle shortly before the collision. We sent our investigators to the police post incident procedure to begin gathering evidence. Our sympathies are with the girl’s loved ones and everyone affected by her death.”