A 17-year-old girl has died and a teenage boy is fighting for life in hospital after the car they were travelling in left the road on the A34 near Oxford this morning.

Police are appealing for witnesses following the accident on the southbound carriageway, between Pear Tree and Botley, when the car — a silver Toyota Yaris carrying four people — left the road and went into a wooded area.

The accident happened shortly after 4.15am opposite the Wytham turn and the road was closed until 10am while police carried out an investigation.

Claire Gourlay, a spokesman for Thames Valley Police, confirmed a 17-year-old girl died as a result of her injuries.

She said the driver, a girl, and two other passengers, a girl and a boy, were also teenagers from Oxfordshire.

They have been taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital and Ms Gourlay said the teenage boy was in a critical condition.

PC Sandra Terry said: “I would like to hear from anyone who may have seen the car prior to this incident, or witnessed the collision itself.”

Anyone with any information is asked to contact PC Terry at Abingdon Roads Policing base via 0845 8 505 505. If you don’t want to talk to the police, call the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.