Car crime kills that's the message from police following a crash at the weekend, which left the passenger dead and the driver seriously injured.

The driver, a 28-year-old man, remains in hospital, where he has been arrested on suspicion of aggravated theft of a vehicle and causing death by dangerous driving.

The passenger, Susan Fenton, 32, died on arrival at the John Radcliffe Hospital after the accident in Godstow Road, Wytham, near Oxford, at about 2pm on Saturday.

Witnesses said they heard the car, a stolen red Honda Prelude, rev loudly as it passed over a bridge before smashing into a wall on a sharp left hand bend in the village.

Last night (Thurs), officers investigating the case spoke of the dangers of car crime and the risk it presents not only to offenders but to ordinary, law-abiding people.

Acting Det Sgt Nick Garside, of Oxford's auto crime team, said: "Stealing cars is serious and doing so can result in serious injuries.

"Stolen cars often end up in accidents. The drivers obviously do not drive with due care and attention and do not stop at the scene of accidents to give details for fear of being identified. This was a very nasty accident, which could have been a lot, lot worse."

Just 30 minutes before the crash, villagers said the road where the accident happened had been busy with people walking to a christening.

Mr Garside issued the following warning to people involved in car crime.

He said: "Think before you act. Your actions can turn to tragedy, as it did last Saturday in Wytham. You might not just injure or kill yourself, it could be an innocent bystander you hurt."

He also said there are simple measures drivers can take to prevent their car being targeted by thieves.

He said: "Make it difficult for people to steal your car. Lock them, fit alarms and security devices and never leave anything on show."

Earlier this week, Susan Fenton's family paid tribute to her as a kind and loving person who enjoyed socialising with friends and listening to music.

Last August, a 27-year-old woman was critically injured in a car crash at the same spot at which Ms Fenton died.

Steph Peterson was given just a 10 per cent chance of survival after the Vauxhall Astra she was travelling in hit the same wall. The driver of the car, Guy Packer, 22, from High Wycombe, was twice the drink-drive limit and earlier this month was jailed for 20 months.