INVESTIGATIONS into the deaths of a family who died in a horrific crash on the A40 have been opened at court.

Ambulances raced to the main road on October 12 after their silver Subaru people carrier crashed with a white ‘heavy goods’ vehicle at around 10pm.

Mum blogger Zoe Powell, 29, died at the scene, which was over a railway bridge between Cassington and Oxford and about 200m west of the flyover.

At the inquest opening today, head coroner for the county Darren Salter said that Mrs Powell, who was an artist and writer, had been living at Linkswood in Chinnor with her husband Joshua Powell, a railway engineer.

Earlier tributes from grandparents said that they had been on their way home from visiting that weekend when the fatal crash happened.

Mrs Powell, who was born in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, was confirmed dead at the scene by a doctor from South Central Ambulance Service at 10.50pm.

Her cause of death from a post-mortem has been put down to multiple injuries.

Her daughter, eight-year-old Phoebe Powell, was also confirmed dead at the scene at the same time.

Miss Powell, who was born in Sheffield in February 2012, was a primary school pupil.

Her death has also been put down to multiple injuries.

Amelia, four, also died after the horrific crash on the A40.

Her death was verified by a doctor at the John Radcliffe Hospital at 10.48pm and her body was identified by her grandparents to hospital staff.

A post-mortem examination has revealed that she died after a severe head injury.

Her brother Simeon Powell, 6, - who was also born in Sheffield - was rushed to hospital after the crash but died at 3.19am the next day.

A doctor at the hospital verified his death and the cause of death was a traumatic brain injury.

There will be one full inquest for all four deaths on March 23, 2021.