A DRIVER was lucky to escape with just minor injuries after his car struck and rolled over a safety barrier on the A34 on Monday afternoon.

The man was travelling on the northbound slip road at the Lodge Hill interchange near Abingdon when his Renault hit an embankment before it hit and rolled over the barrier.

The car then ended up on the northbound slip road.

Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service sent two fire engines, from Abingdon and Didcot at 1.40pm, and they cut the man out the car using hydraulic rescue equipment.

The man was then taken by air ambulance to hospital for further treatment.

The slip road was shut during the work to cut the man free and it reopened shortly afterwards.

Incident commander Watch Manager Neil Priestley said “This could have been a very serious collision. Now that winter is here and with temperatures set to plummet to -7 degrees Celsius overnight, the road conditions are changing.

"I would urge drivers to only travel if essential and if they do then take extra care and adjust their driving techniques and habits to suit the prevailing conditions.”

Thames Valley Police are investigating the circumstances of the one-car crash.