Teen Who Ran from Ambulance on Busy Highway Was Tasered by Police Before Being Fatally Hit by Car

An 18-year-old who died after being struck by a car on a highway in England was Tasered by police moments before his death, officials have confirmed.

The incident happened on Nov. 30 on the M5 in North Somerset shortly after 11 p.m. local time, Avon and Somerset Police said in a news release on Dec. 1.

Logan Smith was being transported to a hospital in an ambulance when the vehicle pulled over on the hard shoulder of the motorway “due to the concerns of ambulance staff,” according to a statement from the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

Officials said that after the ambulance stopped, Smith exited the vehicle and “entered the live lanes” of the motorway. Ambulance staff then called police for assistance, and an officer responded to the scene.

“Body-worn video footage we have viewed shows the officer attempted to engage with Logan and a short time later discharged their Taser, causing Logan to fall to the ground,” the IOPC said. “Soon afterwards, he was struck by a car travelling along the southbound carriageway.”

Smith was treated by first responders but died at the scene.

IOPC regional director Derrick Campbell said in a statement, “My thoughts and sympathies are with Logan’s family and friends and everyone affected by this shocking and tragic incident. We want to reassure everyone that we will independently investigate all the circumstances surrounding this incident, including the use of a Taser.”

He added that investigators have taken initial accounts from the officer and ambulance staff involved and have met with Smith’s family “to give our condolences, explain our role and to provide some further detail about our investigation, including a Taser being discharged during the incident.”

The coroner has been notified of Smith’s death and an autopsy has been completed, according to the release.

In an earlier statement, Assistant Chief Constable Joanne Hall said the police force’s “thoughts are with the man’s family at such a devastating time. We will support them in any way we can.”

“This incident has had a significant effect on our officers and ambulance crews who are understandably incredibly upset by what happened,” Hall continued. “As well as providing support to the man’s family, we are also making sure that the appropriate welfare arrangements are in place for our staff and also for those members of the public who were either directly involved or who witnessed the incident.”