Two women have been killed in a night of carnage on Oxfordshire's roads.

A 22-year-old woman, who has not been identified, died after an eight-car pile-up on the A4260 in Deddington.

In a separate accident, a 23-year-old woman was killed when a car overturned in a field in Merton Road, Ambrosden, near Bicester.

The victim in the Deddington smash, which happened at about 6.20pm, was airlifted to Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital after paramedics battled for almost an hour to release her from her car but she died from her injuries early today.

Sgt Phil Murphy, of Bicester traffic police, said: "Things could have been much worse due to the large volume of traffic. Any accident that involves such a young person is always tragic."

The accident happened after a spillage of oil caused some vehicles to veer on to the opposite carriageway.

A spokesman for Thames Valley police said witnesses saw a Fiat travelling south which swerved across the road into the path of an oncoming Mitsubishi pick-up truck. A Ford Mondeo ploughed into the back of the pick-up and then five other vehicles were involved, either running into the back of the accident or swerving across the road to avoid it. Police closed the road at Deddington and Hopcroft's Holt for more than six hours. A spokesman added they would be interviewing the driver of a tractor in connection with the oil spillage.

The victim in the Ambrosden crash, which happened at 6.50pm, came from Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire. She has not been identified. The driver, Steven Whiting, 27, also from Leighton Buzzard, suffered minor shoulder injuries. Merton Road was closed for an hour.

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