Man Charged With Causing Death by Dangerous Driving After Pedestrian Dies Following Taunton Collision

A 73-year-old man has died in hospital two days after a late-night collision in East Reach. Avon and Somerset Police have also made a mandatory referral to the IOPC after confirming the car was being pursued by a marked patrol vehicle moments before the crash.

A 23-year-old man has appeared before magistrates charged with causing death by dangerous driving after a 73-year-old pedestrian died in hospital following a Friday-night collision in Taunton.

Avon and Somerset Police said emergency services were called to East Reach, Taunton, at around 11.15pm on Friday, 6 November 2026, following a collision between a car and a pedestrian. The pedestrian was taken to hospital in a critical condition with life-threatening injuries, where he died on the afternoon of Sunday, 8 November.

Specially trained family liaison officers have been assigned to support his family, to whom the force offered its condolences on Monday morning.

Charges Amended Overnight Ahead of Court Appearance

On Sunday afternoon—prior to the pedestrian’s death—police announced that Jack Hawkings, aged 23, of Bramley Close, Wellington, had been charged with four offences: causing serious injury by dangerous driving, failing to stop for police, driving without insurance, and driving without a licence.

In a further bulletin issued at 10.45am on Monday, 9 November, Avon and Somerset Police confirmed that following the 73-year-old man’s death in hospital, the principal charge against Hawkings had been amended overnight to causing death by dangerous driving.

Hawkings appeared at Taunton Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 9 November, and was remanded in custody. He is due at Taunton Crown Court on 11 December. The charge of failing to stop for police was withdrawn at the magistrates’ hearing. Two women, aged 21 and 22, who were arrested at the same time in connection with the incident have been released on conditional bail.

Police Pursuit and Mandatory IOPC Referral

Avon and Somerset Police also confirmed that the car involved had been pursued by a marked police vehicle in the moments leading up to the collision in East Reach, and that the officers and staff involved are receiving welfare support.

Because the collision followed police contact and resulted in life-threatening and ultimately fatal injuries, the force has made a mandatory referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

In England and Wales, forces are legally required under the Police Reform Act 2002 to refer any incident involving death or serious injury (known as a DSI referral) following direct or indirect police contact—including road pursuits—to the independent watchdog. A referral is an automatic statutory safeguard to allow independent scrutiny of the circumstances; it does not imply fault or misconduct on the part of the officers involved.

Witness Appeal Remains Open

While criminal proceedings are now active—meaning everyone, including social media users, must avoid publishing commentary or speculation that could prejudice future court hearings—investigators continue to gather factual evidence from the night of the collision.

Anyone who witnessed the collision in East Reach around 11.15pm on Friday, 6 November, saw the moments leading up to it, or holds relevant dashcam or CCTV footage who has not yet spoken to officers is asked to call 101 and quote reference 5226360682.