Villagers have reacted to a 20-year-old man who has died after a crash at a notorious bend following a police chase.
The police pursuit took place on the B480 through Chiselhampton as a black Vauxhall Astra smashed into a wall outside the front of a home.
The incident happened opposite the Coach and Horses pub at around 9.25pm on Thursday, March 7.
READ MORE: Floral tributes left for man in 20s after fatal police chase through village
The driver from Benson and a 23-year-old passenger from Wallingford were both taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital, with police confirming yesterday (March 12) that the driver has died while in the hospital.
Flowers, candles and a wreath reading “TZ” have been left at the remains of the destroyed wall while witness appeal signs have been placed on the road near the scene.
The bend in the road is well-known among locals because of its history of multiple crashes on the road in previous years.
In 2018, a 62-year-old coach driver from Cholsey was killed on the same stretch after colliding with a van.
A teenage joyrider also lost his life after a crash into a wall in the same place in 1998.
Speaking to the Oxford Mail a nearby resident, who asked to remain anonymous, said: “There have been four crashes in the same area in the past 18 months. It is worrying.
“It’s lucky there wasn’t a car coming the other way or people going home from the pub. Within minutes the whole road was lit up with blue flashing lights.
“There were police, ambulance and a lot of medical staff. It's obviously very sad when anybody dies.”
The black Vauxhall Astra overtook an unmarked police vehicle on the incorrect side of the road sparking the chase, Thames Valley Police have said.
Officers in the unmarked vehicle illuminated their blue lights to signal the vehicle to stop, but it continued through the village before crashing into the wall.
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The force made a mandatory referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) due to the crash occurring after a police chase.
An IOPC spokesperson said the pursuing officer had "disengaged" with the car before the crash and that Thames Valley Police must carry out an investigation.
The independent body added that if the investigation does not identify any conduct issues, the force must provide a copy of its final report for the IOPC to review.
The spokesperson said: "Having carefully considered a referral from Thames Valley Police received on March 8, we have decided that, given a man has sadly died, this incident should be investigated, and that the investigation should be carried out by the force.
"The police pursuit appears to have been short in length and the officer who was driving appears to have disengaged prior to the vehicle collision.
"If the investigation does not identify any conduct issues, the force must provide a copy of its final report for the IOPC to review, offering a level of independent oversight."
The family of the man who has died is being supported by specially trained family liaison officers.
The passenger who was also treated in the hospital has since been discharged.
Inspector Scott Long of the TVP Roads Policing Unit said: “First and foremost, my thoughts and the thoughts of all of us at Thames Valley Police are with the family and friends of the man who has sadly died.
“I am today renewing our appeal to anybody who witnessed the collision, or the moments leading up to it, to please get in touch with Thames Valley Police.
“I would again ask for any drivers who were in the area to please check their dash-cams and contact us if it has captured anything that may assist our investigation."
Anyone with information You can contact police by calling 101, quoting reference 43240108500.
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