Two dead, 12 hurt in multi-vehicle motorway crash
TWO people died in an eight-vehicle crash on the M40 yesterday, with another two seriously injured and 10 more sustaining minor injuries.
The multi-vehicle collision happened amid a yellow weather warning for icy temperatures covering the region until 11am yesterday.
The Met Office issued a warning that freezing fog could lead to air pollution and difficult driving conditions, and that the haze would be so thick that visibility could drop as low as 50 metres in some parts of England. The warning was in place between midnight and 11am on yesterday.
The fatal crash at 8.15am between Stokenchurch and High Wycombe also left two people seriously hurt and another 10 with minor injuries.
Police, fire and ambulance crews attended, with Thames Valley air ambulance landing on the northbound carriageway.
Despite the efforts of emergency services, a woman in her 60s and a man in his 70s from London were pronounced dead at the scene.
Their next of kin have been informed and are being supported by specially trained officers.
Thames Valley Police said the two people who were seriously hurt were taken to hospital, where they remained yesterday afternoon.
National Highways said the motorway was expected to remain closed southbound between J4 and J5 for a “considerable time” as officers continued to investigate the scene.
Police said later that one of the eight vehicles involved in the M40 pile-up was a coach. It is unclear whether fog was a factor in the crash.
Det Ch Insp Mike Bettington, of Thames Valley’s Joint Operations Roads Policing Unit, said: “Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of the two people who died.
“We are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed the collision, or who may have dashcam footage, to please get in touch. You can do this by calling 101 or making a report online, quoting reference 43230032159.”