The death toll on Oxfordshire roads continues to grow after two more people died yesterday in difficult driving conditions.

So far this year, 67 people have died in the county, the highest toll in 16 years.

Eight people have died in the past five days and 11 so far in December.

Yesterday's casualties were a lorry driver who was crushed in his cab on the M40 and a van driver killed at a notorious accident blackspot near Witney.

The M40 accident happened in freezing fog at about 9.15am when four lorries collided on the southbound carriageway near Aynho, between junction 11 and junction 10.

Paramedics and firefighters worked for 90 minutes to try to free the driver.

A surgeon from Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital was called to the scene because paramedics thought the man's arm might need amputating. However, the driver, who was still conscious when paramedics arrived, suffered a heart attack and died at about 10.45am, before he could be freed.

Fire service crew manager Russell Hurle said the lorry driver was trapped inside the cab by the upper deck of a car transporter in front.

He said: "The front wheels of the lorry had gone up on the bottom platform of the car transporter. The upper deck had gone straight through the front windscreen."

Traffic was diverted off the motorway on to the A422 and the A43, with delays of up to 90 minutes for drivers caught in the queues. The motorway reopened at 5pm.

In the second accident, which happened at 1pm, the driver of a white Ford Transit van died after his vehicle and a double-decker bus collided on the A415, outside Cokethorpe School, near Ducklington. Six people have died in accidents there in less than three years.

Sgt Martin Percival, of the Bicester traffic police unit, said: "For some reason, they collided on this bend and we're now investigating how it happened.

"It was foggy and the road was slippery. Driving conditions are absolutely appalling and I appeal for motorists to slow down."

The driver of the van was in his mid-30s, but has not been formally identified.

The Tappins' bus was on its way to Witney and Eynsham from Abingdon. The seven passengers suffered minor injuries. They were treated at Witney Hospital.

Tappins' spokesman David Watson said the bus driver had minor hand injuries.

He added: "He's a bit shaken up, as you can imagine. It's a well-known blackspot and really it's up to the police and highways authorities to bring in traffic controls. It has to be attended to."

The road reopened shortly after 7pm.

Victims named

Four victims of three fatal accidents earlier this week have been named.

Sidney Allen, of Lower Crescent, Minster Lovell, and James Martin, 62, of Monmouth, South Wales, both died in a head-on crash on the A40 near Burford at 8.30pm on Monday.

At 4.20pm the same day, 83-year-old Betty Bedford was killed when she was struck by a Ford Transit van in Gravel Hill, Henley, near her home.

A man killed hours earlier on the A420 near Tubney, when the BMW in which he was travelling and a lorry collided, was Omar Bazi, 30, of Banbury Road, Kidlington.

Thick fog adds to traffic danger

The thick fog which may have contributed to yesterday's fatal crashes is set to stay for at least three more days.

Motoring organisations last night warned drivers to take extra care in the cold, foggy conditions.

Oxfordshire County Council highways department's gritters will be busy putting down salt on the county's key roads.

Spokesman Mike Moores said: "I would plead with people to take note of the conditions and be aware of weather forecasts.

"We have a team of people ready to grit the roads 24 hours a day and will watch the situation constantly."

AA spokesman Paul Watters said: "Fog is one of the worst hazards for drivers and it's especially dangerous when it's freezing fog. Minor roads, in particular, get the dual hazard of ice and lack of visibility.

"People should always drive within their limits. They should imagine a solid lump in the road and they should be able to stop in time before hitting it."

Advice from the AA about driving in fog includes: Use dipped headlights at all times and windscreen wipers and demisters Use your front and rear fog lights when appropriate in conditions of poor visibility Beware of other drivers not using lights Only drive as fast as conditions allow and keep extra space between you and the vehicle in front - tailing someone's rear lights can give a false sense of security and is dangerous Be able to stop in the distance ahead you can see clearly At a junction with poor visibility, stop, wind down the window, and listen for traffic, before pulling out.