8:14am Friday 19th January 2007
THE high winds made travel through Oxfordshire a dangerous and time-consuming process with fallen trees, road accidents and train delays.
The winds toppled three lorries on the M40 yesterday afternoon - causing tailbacks - and a man died when a tree fell on his car.
The first lorry overturned on the northbound carriageway of the M40 between junction six at Lewknor and junction seven at Great Hasseley at noon.
It crossed the central reservation and the driver suffered minor injuries. Traffic was reduced to one lane in both directions.
Minutes later a second HGV was toppled by strong winds between junction eight and nine. All three lanes of the northbound carriageway were closed and traffic was restricted to the hard shoulder.
A third lorry fell over between junctions 10 and nine on the southbound carriageway at 2.45pm and traffic was reduced to one lane as attempts to clear carriageways were hampered by the winds.
On the A34 a lorry overturned and went down the embankment on the southbound carriageway at East Ilsey.
Traffic was disrupted as one lane of the southbound carriageway was closed and northbound traffic built up for about four miles as motorists slowed to see the accident, which happened just outside the roadworks. A mile and a half further south, another truck also left the carriageway.
Rail commuters faced delays as Chiltern Railway Trains, Virgin CrossCountry and First Great Western Trains travelled at 50mph to give drivers enough time to stop if a fallen branch was seen on the line.
The direct London Marylebone to Stratford-upon-Avon service through Oxford was cancelled and all Bicester North terminating services were forced to terminate at Princes Risborough until yesterday evening when the line was cleared. The 50mph limit between Oxford and London was lifted at about 3pm but a tree on the line delayed the service between Didcot and Appleford.
At Oxford train station, passenger Joanna Fink, 18, said: "Being stuck on a train that won't go any faster than 50 miles an hour is really frustrating."
First Great Western said if passengers were unable to travel yesterday, tickets will be valid today.
People were urged not to travel on the railways unless absolutely necessary.
Fire crews removed three trees partially blocking the A415 between Abingdon and Culham at about midday.
And a driver in Streatley died on the Oxfordshire and Berkshire border when a tree fell on his Fiesta shortly after midday on the A329 Reading Road.
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