THE M40 northbound has now reopened after this morning's fatal collision involving more than 40 vehicles.
Police have confirmed a man died in the crash near Bicester and more than 60 others were involved.
- Thames Valley Police picture showing the aerial scene
The man died at the scene, another person has life-threatening injuries, six people are seriously injured and up to 49 others have minor injuries, Thames Valley Police said.
Six people with serious injuries were taken to Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital and those with minor injuries were taken to the Horton Hospital in Banbury.
- Picture courtesy of Thames Valley Police
Chief Inspector Henry Parsons of Thames Valley Police Roads Policing said: "The cause of this collision is under investigation, however, we believe that fog played a major part.
"This has been an extraordinarily large collision, we have not had a collision on this scale for many years in Thames Valley and one man has sadly lost his life.
"We are working as quickly as possible to clear the area and get the traffic moving again. I would like to thank the public for their patience while we undertake our important investigative work before a full reopening of the road is possible.
"Should anyone have concerns about friends or relatives who may have been travelling on the M40 this morning, then they can call our non-emergency number 101 for assistance."
The northbound carriageway was closed between junctions 9 and 10 for a number of hours after the crash which happened shortly before 8am.
- Zara Smith tweeted this picture showing the foggy conditions on the M40
The southbound carriageway is open but restrictions are in place so the force warned people to expect delays.
SCAS spokeswoman Catherine Morrow said she believed thick fog on the road this morning may have been a contributory factor in the scale of the accident.
She said their helicopter was on scene and neighbouring ambulance services have also been called in to help: "Two patients have been taken to hospital and we are treating in excess of 35 at the scene."
- Many walking wounded were treated at the scene on the M40
Insp Daren Courtenay, from the Joint Operations Unit for Roads Policing, said: "Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of the man who died at the scene and specially-trained officers are supporting his relatives at this time.
"An investigation in to the cause of the collision is ongoing. The scene officers were faced with was complex and required a large amount of investigation, of working with partner agencies to ensure those involved received the appropriate medical treatment, and the subsequent recovery of the vehicles involved.
"I would like to thank motorists for their patience while the section of the M40 was closed."
- Davy Clarke took this picture of emergency services near the scene of the fatal collision
Motorist Zara Smith got stuck in traffic on the northbound carriageway at 8am just minutes after the accident happened.
- Zara Smith took this picture showing the foggy conditions on the M40
Miss Smith, 31, who was driving from her home in Croydon to visit family in Stockport, said: “When we were at a standstill we couldn’t see anything, it was just thick dense fog.”
At 9.30am she said police managed to redirect some cars, including hers, off the motorway on a slip road.
She said: “When we turned to go up the slip road we could just see complete and utter carnage about a mile down the road.
“There was definitely a lorry jack-knifed across the road, it looked like a sea of metal.”
She said she counted 13 ambulances and ten fire engines.
- A number of lorries appeared to have been involved in the crash
Davy Clarke was heading southbound. He said: "Basically, several lorries, a couple of coaches and cars. Behind screens now."
- Only one lane was open southbound as emergency services dealt with the recovery of more than 40 vehicles
Roads in and around Bicester were gridlocked with traffic diverted from this morning’s accident scene on the M40.
Chesterton Parish Council clerk Vic Keeble said he drove into Bicester this afternoon on the A41 and it was “horrendous”.
And the A430 through Weston on the Green is also “nose to tail”, he said.
Mr Keeble said: "It’s such a shame. I can’t think of an accident that was worse than this in Oxfordshire."
Traffic on the M40 is queuing for several miles in both directions approaching the scene of the crash near Little Chesterton between junctions 9 and 10 on the motorway.
Mr Keeble said he drove to an M40 flyover just north of the accident scene, and the northbound carriageway was completely empty, while the southbound was at a virtual standstill as far as he could see.
- Police said it was a very complex investigation but that fog would play a big part in their inquiry
Oxford University Hospitals Trust spokeswoman Melanie Proudfoot said five victims of the accident had been admitted to A&E at the John Radcliffe hospital, Oxford this morning.
- Andrew Browett took this picture of traffic backed up on the M40
Police spokeswoman Hannah Williams confirmed shortly after 10am that one person had died.
Ardley parish councillor Ian Corkin said an emergency centre had been set up in the village hall.
He said: "As part of the Oxfordshire emergency planning team we were helping people by providing hot food and hot drinks as well making wifi and phone charges available so they could get in touch with their relatives.
"We were also here to speak to the people who were shocked and wanted to talk about their experience.
"A lot of people didn’t know where they were because they just got on a coach and were taken here.
"About 50 people 12 volunteers came down to help out. The atmosphere was very quiet and some people were very traumatised by their experience."
@SuePaz1 @martinstanford lots of people were walking around but the police are working hard to turn us round pic.twitter.com/NqiFoviaL1
— zara (@zarascakes) February 14, 2015
On the #M40 southbound between junctions J10 and J9, there are currently delays of 30 mins due to an incident c... http://t.co/8dTCEk9uCs
— Live Traffic - M40 (@Traffic_M40) February 14, 2015
#M40 #Oxfordshire closed northbound J9-J10. 2 lanes closed southbound J10-J9. Serious multi vehicle collision. More details to follow.
— Highways Agency (@HAtraffic_east) February 14, 2015
Heavy traffic congestion expected around J9 M40 and A34 at J9 Bicester. Avoid the area. Seek alternative route. Sgt 498
— TVP Roads Policing (@tvprp) February 14, 2015
In other news... Thoughts with all passengers and drivers of the 33 cars that crashed on the m40 near Bicester this morning :(
— Hannah (@hannahox18) February 14, 2015
Warning to #oufc fans heading to Burton: Serious multi-vehicle crash on the M40 northbound after J9 at Bicester http://t.co/Q90eInPKSz
— Oxford Mail OUFC (@OxfordMailOUFC) February 14, 2015
My thoughts are with all of those involved in the crashes on the #M40 and #M1, horrible news.
— The Tino (@fowkes81) February 14, 2015
30 car incident on M40 - could be here a long time. #m40 pic.twitter.com/KBjqz4puPy
— davyclarke (@davyclarke) February 14, 2015
Saddened to hear of the crash on the M40 ive used it a lot a very safe road. #M40
— David Edwards (@daverhiwlas) February 14, 2015
@twitraffic M40 between Junctions 8 and 9. Queueing traffic. pic.twitter.com/nDjdYav8Tg
— Andrew Browett (@BrowettAndrew) February 14, 2015
Major delays #M40 between J9-J10 northbound due to multi-vehicle accident. Please avoid the area and find alternative routes.
— Thames Valley Police (@ThamesVP) February 14, 2015
@Keeley_Rodgers @TwiTraffic on the move now. pic.twitter.com/7OKt6Gv6a5
— Andrew Browett (@BrowettAndrew) February 14, 2015
To all that are involved in the motorway crashes my thoughts are with you #M40 n #m1accident
— Andrew Coster (@andrewcoster28) February 14, 2015
Sitting in traffic, taken 4hrs to get to Warwick.. #M40 #Accident @BBCNews @itvnews @SkyNews pic.twitter.com/0OMxZRdYDZ
— Heather Cadden (@MissCadden) February 14, 2015
@TheOxfordMail I got caught In southbound traffic. Fog was very thick with little visibility at points
— alan woods (@alanscottwoods) February 14, 2015
Standstill #M40 http://t.co/jieRmTfyzU
— Josh (@JoshFerguson_19) February 14, 2015
@Keeley_Rodgers southbound just as the traffic goes down to 2 lanes, opposite side to crash, causing mayhem
— Josh (@JoshFerguson_19) February 14, 2015
Lottie missing M40 J9-10 Northbound thrown through open car door whilst car being hit http://t.co/TNCSjqBF2D pic.twitter.com/uIeqCKj9A9
— AlgernonTrust (@algernontrust) February 14, 2015
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