Did you see the crash or were you involved? Get in touch here if it is safe to do so.

A WOMAN in her fifties has been killed on the A40 this morning as a series of 'very serious' crashes in icy, foggy conditions led to devastation.

A man and a woman also sustained serious injuries in the crash and are still being treated in hospital. Two more people were taken to hospital and more than a dozen were treated for minor injuries.

The Eastbound carriageway reopened just before 6pm and all vehicles have now been removed from the area.

After the clear-up the carriageway was gritted.

Motorists involved in the crash described the 'destruction' and 'carnage' at the scene this morning, with cars swerving on the ice and crashing into stationary vehicles.


Thames Valley Police spokesman Jack Abell confirmed shortly before 10.30am that a woman had been killed in the incident.

Today, police revealed that the woman was from Gloucestershire. 

South Central Ambulance Service spokesman David Gallagher said several people had also been seriously injured.

At 9.56am he said: "We’re dealing with two patients, one female and one male, with serious/life-threatening injuries who will be going to the John Radcliffe Hospital Major Trauma Unit.

"We have a further 10 to 15 patients with minor injuries currently being assessed by our staff at the scene."

The incident stretchesd over half-a-mile of road. Within that are six vehicles with 'significant' damage and 10 to 15 with minor danage.

Mr Gallagher added: "There are two main collision areas – one at the front of that 1000m stretch and a more serious one around the halfway mark.

"The road conditions are reported as being very icy by our staff at the scene."

Three ambulances, three rapid response vehicles, two officers and the air ambulance car were in attendance after an initial call made at 8.22am.                             

Oxford Mail:

Commuters tweeted this morning after getting stuck in traffic in the area.

Due to the weather there were a number of crashes as the orginal incident created a domino effect.

Mr Gallagher said: "We think there at least four collisions. We are trying to work through exactly where people are.

"There are multiple vehicles in multiple accidents and a number of people have been seriously injured."

A statement has been issued by Oxfordshire County Council advising motorists to avoid the A40 between the B4047 Asthall Roundabout and A415 at Witney following the crashes.

Crews from Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service are also on the scene.

The statement said: "It is expected that the A40 between the B4047 Asthall Roundabout and A415 Witney will be closed for most of today, and this will have a knock-on effect on traffic on the rest of the local road network."

Spokesman Owen Morton confirmed the road had been gritted as usual on Tuesday night. Gritters will be out again at 6pm this evening.

Thames Valley Police spokesman Jack Abell added: "Officers were called today at about 8.25am following reports of a collision involving multiple vehicles on the A40, Witney.

"Officers are at the scene along with the fire and rescue services. A number of people are believed to have been injured.

"Road closures are currently in place and drivers are advised to avoid the area."

'It was terrible'

Driver Ben Starkey said a crash had taken place just ahead of him and he was one of the first lorries to be involved.

He said: "There were two vehicles facing me and on further inspection I could see two cars had gone into the back of each other.

"There was a vehicle screwed up with dents all over and a lady on the floor in a serious condition. There was further destruction behind me."

Mr Starkey, who said he could see about 10 smashed-up vehicles in front of him and six or seven behind, said he had seen one woman being given CPR on the scene. He added: "It was terrible."

'It was treacherous underfoot'   

Another driver, who asked to remain anonymous, said he joined the road from Brize Norton and saw the aftermath of an initial crash in front of him.

He said: "I pulled over. A few vehicles went flying past me and caused another crash where we were.

"Whether the roads were gritted properly I don't know but it was treacherous underfoot. You had a job seeing in front of your face this morning."

'I phoned an ambulance but couldn't stop'

Pregnant mother-of-two Ami Gaston, from Carterton, was in the car with her partner when she saw the first vehicle crash. She said the accident happened about half a mile from the Witney exit, blocking the right lane.

"A man on his own had skidded and crashed into middle barrier. My partner was driving - we had to swerve out of the right lane to avoid hitting him. His door was open and air bags were released," Miss Gaston said.

"I phoned an ambulance but couldn't stop. My partner wouldn't stop because I am 20 weeks pregnant and didn't want to put us in danger."

She added that the heavy fog meant the situation was "really dangerous", as it was difficult to see any other car until you were "on top of it".

'Two cars went flying into the barrier'

Another eyewitness arrived at the scene later and described the "carnage" as multiple cars swerved and crashed on the busy road.

The woman, who asked not to be named, said she "luckily" saw hazard warning lights ahead as she approached on the slip road from Carterton, and moved on to a grass verge before witnessing the pile-up.

"I saw cars going zooming past me and trying to swerve out the way of the stationary cars but crashing into them," she said.

"I saw one car try swerve in between a Mini and another car, ending up crashing into the Mini and (flying) up in the air.

"I saw two cars swerve as they braked so hard and go flying into the barrier in the middle of the road ... it was carnage," she added.

'The road was sheet ice'

Deborah Hirst, who joined the dual carriageway from Carterton, saw a car crash straight into a Mini and end up on two wheels before hitting other cars in the outside lane.

She said: "The road was sheet ice under foot. Visibility was down to  two to three car lengths at best.

"I remember thinking to myself 'What on earth is he doing' as the car sped past me and was aware I was shouting 'No, no, no' as I saw him hit the Mini."

She added that she was 'staggered' to see cars travelling at 'ridiculous' speeds in thick fog further down the A40 in the direction of Oxford despite low visibility.

A yellow weather warning issued by the Met Office for fog was in place from Tuesday night and has now been extended until 12pm tomorrow.

Freezing fog patches are set to become more widespread and locally dense with drivers warned to stay vigilant in 'difficult' conditions.

Road safety charity, Brake, has sent a reminder out to drivers to make sure they leave ample stopping distances. 

A spokesman for the charity said: "Temperatures will be at or below freezing again overnight and fog is expected in the morning across our region.

"Following on from today's incident on the A40 near Witney, please share this timely reminder regarding stopping distances.

"Travelling on a road in a car at 70mph in dry, clear conditions it will take you at least 96 metres (or 24 car lengths) to stop.

"It will take much longer than this when conditions are wet, icy or you have impaired visibility.”