A 17-year-old girl was killed when she was hit by a car on the M5 shortly after getting out of the back of a police car.
The teenager was being transported to custody by officers from Avon and Somerset Police before the fatal crash at around 11pm last night.
She was declared dead at the scene. Nobody else was hurt in the collision.
The motorway was closed in both directions between junctions 24 (Bridgwater) and 25 (Taunton) until 10.20am this morning.
The force said it had made a mandatory referral to the police watchdog due to prior police contact.
In an update this morning, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said: ‘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.’
The IOPC added: ‘Our sympathies are with the girl’s loved ones and everyone affected by her death.’
Police said the victim’s next of kin have been notified and are being supported by a specially-trained officer.
Shortly after the crash, National Highways south-west said: ‘Traffic caught within the closure of the #M5 north between J25 (#Taunton) and J24 (#Bridgwater) is being turned around from the back of the queue. Correction to our previous update, south traffic is not being turned yet. But will in due course. Thanks for your patience.’
Anyone who witnessed the crash or has dashcam footage is urged to call 101 and give the call handler the reference of log number 1170 of 11 November.
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