Oxfordshire horror crashes in Banbury and M40 leave two dead

A man, 33, was killed at a roundabout in Banbury on Saturday morning while a woman died on the M40 yesterday.

Flowers left at the scene of the fatal crash in Banbury, which killed a man, 33, named locally as Lee (Image: Public)

Colourful flowers have been left by dented metal railings at the junction of Parklands Road following the Banbury crash.

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The bouquets mark the spot where a blue Subaru Impreza ended up after crashing into the roundabout’s central island at 1.35am.

The driver – who has been named locally as Lee - suffered a severe head injury and died at the scene.

Others have paid their respects online with Sian Griffiths describing the news as “heartbreaking”.

She said: “Sending lots of love to the family at this terrible time.

“It is all that really needs to be said. Someone has lost their life and a family are without their father and partner.”

Another comment from Sharon Brierton said: "A young man with three kids lost his life, and this leaves people feeling so sad."

A fatal crash on the M40 on Sunday morning left a stretch of the motorway closed for several hours

The M40 crash happened at around 4am near Thame and closed a stretch of the motorway for most of Sunday.

Thames Valley Police issued a statement at around 9am on Sunday confirming a woman in her 40s had died and that her next of kin had been informed. 

No arrests have been made.

Investigating officer Sergeant James Mathews of the Roads Policing Unit, said: “This is an extremely tragic incident where a woman who had got out of her car, having stopped on the hard shoulder, was involved in a collision with a heavy goods vehicle on the southbound carriageway.

“My thoughts and the thoughts of all of us at Thames Valley Police are with the family of the woman who has died. They are being supported by specially trained family liaison officers." 

Those with information on this incident are urged to call Thames Valley Police on 101, quoting the reference number 43240031296.

Several drivers reportedly missed flights after getting stuck in standstill for between five and six hours.

One woman, named Zara, told the Oxford Mail: “My husband Akbar Hameed was very upset and lost out on his flight."

Thames Valley Police responded to at least five serious crashes from Friday to Sunday

The tragic incidents came on a weekend of crash chaos across the county with at least five serious road traffic accidents in three days.

A pedestrian, 72, was hit by a Vauxhall van in Faringdon on Friday afternoon, leaving her in hospital with spinal and leg injuries.

On the same day, a man, 21, suffered broken bones and lacerations in a hit-and-run in Banbury involving a small yellow car.

READ MORE: Bicester girl, 14, found after Oxfordshire police search

Police are looking for the driver, a blonde woman who “momentarily stopped” before leaving the scene.

A Vauxhall SUV crashed into two restaurants in Iffley Road on Saturday night (Image: Public)

In Oxford, a scene of broken glass and devastation was left in Iffley Road after a Vauxhall SUV crashed into two restaurants.

The frontages of Turtle Pizza Cafe and Tsang's Kitchen were heavily damaged in the crash on Saturday night.

Thames Valley Police confirmed there were no injuries.

Oxford city councillor for St Mary's ward, Emily Kerr, said: “A neighbour tells me this is the fourth car which has flipped near their house since they’ve been living in my ward.

“Each year on Oxfordshire’s roads there are 30,000 accidents.

“Let’s face it, dangerous driving is the real risk on our roads, not e-scooters or cyclists.”