A40 REOPENS – One dead and two fighting for life after twenty CAR pile up near Witney
Thames Valley Police spokesman Jack Abell confirmed shortly before Ten.30am that a woman had been killed in the incident.
South Central Ambulance Service spokesman David Gallagher said several people had also been gravely injured, with two in a critical condition.
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Up to twenty vehicles have been involved in the crash
He said: “We`re dealing with two patients, one female and one masculine, with serious/life-threatening injuries who will be going to the John Radcliffe Hospital Major Trauma Unit.
“We have a further ten to fifteen patients with minor injuries presently being assessed by our staff at the scene.”
Traffic has been queuing for over a mile
One crash led to a 2nd car backing up in traffic
At least two crashes took place on the 1000m spread of road, which was covered in ice and shrouded by strenuous fog.
One crash led to a 2nd car backing up in traffic before a more serious crash in the middle of the icy road – which has now reopened westbound.
Six vehicles are believed to have suffered significant harm and a further ten to fifteen with minor harm.
Three ambulances, three rapid response vehicles, two officers and the air ambulance remain at the scene after the very first call to emergency services was received at 8.22am this morning.
Police believe there may have been two or more crashes
Six vehicles suffered significant harm
Lorry driver Ben Starkey, who witnessed the horrific incident unfold, said: “It happened just further ahead of me. The road conditions were fairly bad. It was snowy and icy.
“I pulled to a stop. There were two vehicles facing my but on further inspection I could see two cars had gone into the back of each other.
“There was a vehicle screwed up with dents all over and a lady on the floor in a serious condition.
“There was further destruction behind me. At the moment I would say there’s around ten cars in front of me and six or seven behind me. Most of them are cars. There’s a lot of debris on the floor.”
Another driver, who asked to remain anonymous, told the Oxford Mail he joined the road from Brize Norton and eyed the aftermath of an initial crash in front of him.
He said: “I pulled over. A few vehicles went flying past me and caused another crash where we were.
“Whether the roads were gritted decently I don’t know but it was treacherous underfoot. You had a job eyeing in front of your face this morning.”
Council spokesman Owen Morton confirmed the road had been gritted as usual on Tuesday night.
It is unknown exactly how many people have been injured as yet
Up to twenty cars were involved in the smash
Another eyewitness described the “carnage” after she “fortunately” witnessed hazard lights ahead as she approached on the slip road from Carterton, and moved on to a grass brink.
She said: “I spotted cars going zooming past me and attempting to swerve out the way of the stationary cars but crashing into them,” she said.
“I eyed one car attempt swerve in inbetween a Mini and another car, ending up crashing into the Mini and flying up in the air.
“I eyed two cars swerve as they braked so hard and go flying into the barrier in the middle of the road . it was carnage.”
Never heard so many sirens. Hope not too serious. Guessing somewhere on a40
@hemo25 it’s like an ice rink
Massive accident on a40 Witney bypass. Sat here watching Fire. Ambulance . Police crews flying by dealing with it . Avoid .
Oxfordshire car crash sounds horrendous. Stay safe, A40 drivers. #oxfordshire
There was a vehicle screwed up with dents all over and a lady on the floor in a serious condition.
Lorry driver Ben Starkey
A police spokesman said: «Officers were called today at about 8.25am following reports of a collision involving numerous vehicles on the A40, Witney.
«Officers are at the scene along with the fire and rescue services. A number of people are believed to have been injured.
«Road closures are presently in place and drivers are advised to avoid the area.»
A40 DISASTER: One dead and two fighting for their lives in deadly pile-up
The A40 reopens after a pile-up of twenty cars inbetween Witney and Burford Road in Oxfordshire, leaving one dead and two people fighting for their lives
The scene following a multi car pile up on the A40 [Ben Starkey / SWNS.com]
The council said the A40 had been gritted to prepare for frost
The A40 was covered in ice and shrouded with fog
The crash comes after forecasters warned fog would be slow to clear
It is unknown exactly how many people have been injured as yet, but ambulance services are at the scene.
A spokesman for the ambulance service told the Oxford Mail: «We think there at least four collisions. We are attempting to work through exactly where people are.
«There are numerous vehicles in numerous accidents and a number of people have been earnestly injured.»
A statement has been issued by Oxfordshire County Council advising motorists to avoid the A40 inbetween the B4047 Asthall Roundabout and A415 at Witney following the crashes.
The statement said: “It is expected that the A40 inbetween the B4047 Asthall Roundabout and A415 Witney will be closed for most of today, and this will have a knock-on effect on traffic on the rest of the local road network.”
Witnesses said the fog meant visibility was almost non-existent
The “very icy” road is closed inbetween Witney and Burford Road
The crash comes after forecasters warned fog would be slow to clear because of high pressure over the UK.
The Met Office’s website read: “Patches of fog are expected to form overnight and whilst not all areas will see them where fog patches do form visibility could be less than one hundred metres.
“The fog patches are expected to skinny during Wednesday, albeit some patches may persist throughtout the day.”
The Met Office also issued a yellow warning for fog across the majority of England and some parts of Wales.