Storm Henk fallen tree leads to fatal crash near Goring

The woman, 87, was driving a red Smart Forfour on the B4526 near Goring when the crash happened on Tuesday afternoon (January 2).

She collided with the tree near Crays Pond, near the junction with Eastfield Lane, at around 5.25pm and died at the scene.

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Thames Valley Police said no arrests had been made and appealed for witnesses to the tragic crash to come forward.

The force received a report of the fallen tree approximately 90 minutes before the crash, but it was not cleared.

The crash came on the same day that Storm Henk battered large parts of Oxfordshire, with strong wind and heavy rain across the county.

A tree fell in the road in Cumnor Hill on Wednesday (Image: Photo: Andy Ffrench)

Trees were reported to have fallen onto roads elsewhere, including on the A34 in Oxford on Tuesday and in Cumnor Hill on Wednesday.

The heavy rainfall has also caused flooding and difficult driving conditions on Oxfordshire roads throughout the week.

The authorities have urged motorists to take caution.

The woman’s death is the second fatal crash in Oxfordshire in as many days after a van driver was killed near Wallingford when he crashed into a tree on Wednesday.

The crash happened on the B4526 near Goring (Image: Google Maps)

Thames Valley Police said the woman’s next of kin had been made aware of her death and were being supported by specially trained officers.

Senior investigating officer Sergeant Dominic Mahon, of the serious collision investigation unit, said: “Sadly, a woman has died following this collision and our thoughts are with her loved ones.

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“We would like to appeal for anyone that witnessed the collision, or saw the car prior to it, to contact us.

“We would also ask any drivers with a dash-camera who were in the area at the time to check their recordings and let us know if it has captured anything that could help our investigation.”

Thames Valley Police said anyone with information should get in touch by calling 101 or by using the force’s website, quoting reference number 43240002053.

The force has been forced to refer the crash to the Independent Office for Police Conduct as it had received a report of the fallen tree near Goring.

It was one of a number of reports the force received about fallen trees approximately an hour and a half before the collision.

Difficult driving conditions are expected to continue today (Thursday) and Friday as rain and wind continues to sweep across the county.

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for both days, which means the weather will cause some low level impacts, including travel disruption.