A DRIVER died after colliding with a pedestrian and veering off the road into a tree.

The fatal rush hour crash happened on Friday evening on the A41 near Bicester, close to the Wendlebury Interchange linking with the A34 and M40.

In a witness appeal Thames Valley Police said the driver who died was a 29-year-old man from Wallingford.

He had been driving a grey BMW southbound towards the M40 at about 5.30pm, when his car hit a pedestrian.

The vehicle then careered off the carriageway and smashed into a tree. 

He died at the scene and his next of kin have been informed.

The pedestrian, a man aged in his 30s, was taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital with non life-threatening injuries and later discharged.

The driver has not yet been named but one Oxford Mail reader, commenting online, said: "This young man was a friend for many years.

"He was a very loved, respected and talented person."

Investigating officer PC Linzi Turner, from the force's Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: "We are investigating the circumstances of this collision in which a man sadly died at the scene.

"I would like to speak to anyone who witnessed it or who saw the vehicle travelling prior to the collision.

"If you have any information, or dash-cam footage, please come forward as this could assist our investigation."

One person who was driving on the A41 said the crash prompted response from all three emergency services.

South Central Ambulance Service sent several crews to the scene including the Thames Valley Air Ambulance and two road ambulances.

Part of the A41 had to be closed while the air ambulance landed, causing gridlock on surrounding roads.

One driver on Twitter said police directed trapped traffic to reverse back down the A41 to the Wendlebury exit. 

Anyone with any information can contact Bicester Serious Collision Investigation Unit by calling 101, quoting the reference ‘1064 10/8’.