A 79-year-old man died following a head-on crash on the A40 near Witney yesterday.

The man, from Britwell Salome near Watlington, died at the scene after his grey Vauxhall Meriva was in collision with a van at Barnard Gate just after 2pm.

His next of kin have been informed.

The driver of the van, a white Mercedes Sprinter, was taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, by ambulance with suspected serious leg and chest injuries after being cut free by firefighters.

The force of the impact knocked the van on its side.

Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue incident commander Paul Bremble said: “Crews worked well to release the casualty who was quickly removed and taken to hospital.

“Unfortunately this incident resulted in the loss of life to an individual and I ask that drivers pay attention to speed limits and drive to the conditions of the road”

Another van, a grey Vauxhall Movano, was also involved in the collision. The driver was not injured.

An air ambulance was called out due to traffic congestion but was not used.

Long tailbacks in both directions were reported on the A40, which was closed between Witney and the Eynsham roundabout.

The A40 was also the scene of another three-car crash earlier in the day, in which a woman was injured. The woman was taken to hospital with suspected chest injuries after the crash near Eynsham just after 9am.

Witnesses to the fatal accident are asked to contact police on 08458 505505.