Man dies in M40 crash, motorway closed

A man has died and three people have been seriously hurt after a taxi overturned on the M40 earlier this morning.

The white Mercedes people carrier-style taxi was travelling southbound and crashed through the central reservation barrier into the northbound carriageway at around 5am.

The vehicle, which is believed to have travelled from the High Wycombe area, was carrying six passengers and a driver, all were men.

One of the passengers was pronounced dead at the scene and three other passengers have been taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital with serious injuries.

One of these is believed to be life threatening.

Sgt Bryan Smith from the Roads Policing Team based at Bicester said: “Because of the nature of the accident, the M40 has been closed in both directions between junction 8 at Thame and junction 9 at Bicester.

“We anticipate that the road will be closed for a number of hours to allow for an investigation of the collision to take place and full clear-up operation to happen.

“I would advise all motorists to avoid the road and find alternative routes as the road closure is expected to be in place for several hours.

“I would also appeal for anyone who was travelling along the M40 around the time the collision was reported to us, who may have witnessed this incident, to come forward and speak with us about what they saw.”

Anyone with information should contact Sgt Smith on 101.

Comments(7)

LORD PETER MACVEY 0X2 6EG says...
2:59am Sun 6 May 12

If it had travelled from High Wycombe would it not have been going Northbound?

Headington_angel says...
10:25am Sun 6 May 12

no, it says it was travelling southbound but went through the crash barrier on to the northbound side. must have been doing some speed to have done that though :S

davyboy says...
12:48pm Sun 6 May 12

Headington_angel wrote:
no, it says it was travelling southbound but went through the crash barrier on to the northbound side. must have been doing some speed to have done that though :S
yes it would. even lorries struggle to break the barrier. at 5am, i would suggest they were returning to wycombe from a night out. RIP, whoever you are. sad end to a night out.

LORD PETER MACVEY 0X2 6EG says...
7:31pm Sun 6 May 12

Headington_angel wrote:
no, it says it was travelling southbound but went through the crash barrier on to the northbound side. must have been doing some speed to have done that though :S
My point exactly, how could it be going southbound from a town that is south of here and crash to the north?

Headington_angel says...
9:12pm Tue 8 May 12

LORD PETER MACVEY 0X2 6EG wrote:
Headington_angel wrote:
no, it says it was travelling southbound but went through the crash barrier on to the northbound side. must have been doing some speed to have done that though :S
My point exactly, how could it be going southbound from a town that is south of here and crash to the north?
Maybe it was heading towards London on the southbound side, then leapt the barriers onto the northbound side towards Oxford???...Just a hunch, lets remember the M40 does not stop at High Wycombe

doubleU says...
10:24pm Sat 12 May 12

LORD PETER MACVEY 0X2 6EG wrote:
If it had travelled from High Wycombe would it not have been going Northbound?
The vehicle was from HW, but had travelled North to Staffordshire where it picked up its passenger, then was travelling back south to Heathrow.

doubleU says...
10:25pm Sat 12 May 12

davyboy wrote:
Headington_angel wrote:
no, it says it was travelling southbound but went through the crash barrier on to the northbound side. must have been doing some speed to have done that though :S
yes it would. even lorries struggle to break the barrier. at 5am, i would suggest they were returning to wycombe from a night out. RIP, whoever you are. sad end to a night out.
They weren't on a night out, they had finished a long week working in Staffordshire and were heading home to their families, going to Heathrow. Anyone with info, please contact the police. The families are anxious to know what happened.

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