A lorry driver was killed in a crash today which has closed the M40 in Oxfordshire.

Police were called at 5.43am to reports of a collision between two lorries and a van on the southbound carriageway near Junction 10 at Ardley.

One lorry jack-knifed across the southbound carriageway.

Police said they anticipated long delays and have closed the southbound carriageway at Junction 10.

Traffic is not being allowed on to the southbound carriageway at either junction ten and 11.

The northbound carriageway has also been closed while the clear-up is in operation.

Just before 11am, police said the road closure would be in place for at least four hours.

Police officers are working closely with the Fire Service which is assessing oxy-acetylene cylinders on one of the vehicles.

Police said they may have potentially become unstable and may need to cool down before being moved.

A police spokesman said: "The primary concern is public safety and the safety of the emergency services working at the scene, drivers are being urged to take alternative routes as the emergency services assess how long the closures will remain in place.

"There are currently closures in place on the M40 at junctions 10 and 11 southbound, and at junction 9 northbound.

"We are liaising closely with the Highways Agency which is giving the following diversions for motorists:

Drivers coming southbound should come off at junction 11 on the M40, continue on to the A422 to Brackley then take the A43 southbound, on to the B430 and follow to Western on the Green, join the A34 and then rejoin the M40 at junction 9 to continue their journey.

Drivers coming northbound should come off junction 9 on the M40, join the A34 soundbound and then take the B430 at Western on the Green, join the A43 to Brackley and continue to the A422 to Banbury and then rejoin the M40 to continue with your journey at junction 11.

A spokesman for the South Central Ambulance service said apart from the fatality, it had not treated any other casualties from the incident. Two other drivers suffered shock but were not taken to hospital.

Sarah Dobbie, duty manager of the Cherwell Valley Services, near Ardley, said the petrol station had been closed by police and made an official checkpoint for the emergency services on scene.

She said: “They shut us because everyone was coming into us thinking they could get back on to the motorway.

“Of course they couldn’t and it just got gridlocked.

“It was chaos.

“But for the last hour or so we haven’t had any customers at all.”

The Highways Agency have warned it could take until the afternoon for the road to reopen.

The crash has also led to delays on other roads in north Oxfordshire, including the A34, A43, the B430, the B4100 Aynho Road, Adderbury, and roads around Bicester, as drivers seek alternative routes.

  • Drivers in Oxford faced delays today after a crash between a lorry and a car blocked one lane of the southbound Oxford Eastern Bypass between the Headington Roundabout and the B480 Garsington Road.