A 45-YEAR-OLD man has been arrested after a man died in a "tragic" crash with a lorry. 

The victim, aged 27, was among three pedestrians involved in the collision in the early hours of this morning, while another injured man wandered from the scene and was tracked down by a police helicopter.

Thames Valley Police said it was called to the fatal crash at 4.22am this morning on the Junction 9 slip road at Wendlebury.

It said the lorry collided with the people who had got out of the car on the slipway.

Spokesman Jack Abell said: "We attended the scene, along with the ambulance service. Sadly, one of the pedestrians, a man, has been pronounced dead at the scene."

Two pedestrians and the male driver of the car were taken to John Radcliffe Hospital for treatment.

Two have since been discharged, and one man remains in hospital where he is being treated for serious head injuries.

The National Police Air Service tweeted that it had been assisting Thames Valley Police with its investigation using a crew sent out from its Benson base.

Mr Abell added: "NPAS was involved in locating one of the injured pedestrians who had walked away from the scene. He was later found and taken to hospital". 

He said he could not confirm the relationship between the pedestrians or whether their car had broken down.

Investigating officer Det Con Ian Bailey of Thames Valley Police’s serious collision investigation unit, said: “I would like to speak to anyone who may have witnessed this collision, in which a man has tragically died.

“Anyone who has any information about it should call the 24-hour non emergency number on 101.”

A 45-year-old man from Southampton has been arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving and is currently in custody.

The crash sparked the closure of a stretch of southbound carriageway and queues of traffic piled back for miles.

Highways England said the junction 9 slip road was closed throughout the morning rush hour while Thames Valley Police officers carried out "an extensive investigation". 

It reopened at 9.20am. 

The southbound road was closed between junctions 9 and 10 but reopened at about 7.45am. 

Traffic was stuck for six miles before the reopening, delaying commuters for more than two hours. 

Thames Valley Police enlisted a crew from the National Police Air Service to assist from a helicopter.

Traffic was diverted to Weston-on-the-Green to the A34 and back to the M40, according to Highways England.