A WOMAN died in a fatal car accident on Friday night and hours later two police officers were hit by a car while protecting the crash scene.

Thames Valley Police said the fatal crash happened on Oxford’s Northern Bypass when a grey Toyota Avensis hit a pedestrian at 11.46pm.

A police spokeswoman said the woman was in her 20s and died at the scene.

She added the vehicle involved was travelling on the Northern Bypass from Marston towards the Cutteslowe Roundabout.

Then at 2.25am two police officers were injured after a blue Toyota Auris crashed into their marked police car.

The two officers were taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital – one had a serious leg injury that will require surgery, and the other suffered a knee injury and whiplash but has now been discharged from hospital.

The driver of the Toyota Auris, a woman in her late 20s, suffered minor injuries but did not require hospital treatment.

Police said after the second accident a woman in her late 20s was arrested on suspicion of being drunk in charge of a vehicle and has been bailed until June 24. Sgt Jack Hawkins appealed to anyone who might have witnessed the collisions, or has any other information to assist their investigation, to contact police as soon as possible.

Police said a section of the carriageway reopened shortly before 5am on Saturday after collision investigation work was carried out.

Anyone with information should call Sergeant Graeme Hughes on 101.