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Thames Valley Police say driver and passenger in 80s both died in crash along with another man in 30s

Car and caravan it was towing crashed into two vehicles around busy junction in South Oxfordshire


Horrified motorists called police to report a car and caravan with 'foreign plates' driving on the wrong side of a motorway for up to five miles and seven minutes before causing a fatal pile-up.

Three people are dead following the crash which involved the Subaru Forester, after it was seen towing a caravan south on the northbound M40 in Oxfordshire yesterday between Lewknor and Milton Common.

The Subaru collided with a Ford Mondeo and a Ford Focus - killing the Subaru driver and passenger, both in their 80s, and the Mondeo driver, a man in his 30s. The collision also led to delays of up to 90 minutes for drivers.

The accident happened at about 4pm yesterday, but it took until 11.30am today – nearly 20 hours later - for Thames Valley Police to reveal that three people had died. Nobody else is believed to have been injured.

Detectives said reports of the car on the wrong side of the road first came in from motorists at 3.55pm yesterday, before the accident was initially reported seven minutes later at 4.02pm.

Three people died in the horror crash near junction six of the M40 in Oxfordshire yesterday

It comes as the M40 was closed yet again today following the second serious crash in 24 hours. A woman was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries after the collision, which happened at about 3.30pm near Oxford.

The northbound carriage was shut by police at junctions 8 and 8a, and also in the southbound direction to allow an air ambulance to land. The crash occurred just one junction away from yesterday's fatal collision.

Yesterday, a shocking video revealed the moment the car comes past in the wrong direction, before the car collided with two vehicles.

It is not yet clear where the car entered the motorway, but it is believed to have travelled the wrong way between junctions seven and six - a distance of five miles.

The carriageway was closed between junctions six and eight while emergency services attended and resurfacing work took place, before re-opening today.

Police initially received reports that a car towing a caravan was speeding south on the northbound carriageway and deployed patrol cars to try to intercept the driver.

However, before they could find the car they started receiving 999 calls to say that it had crashed into at least two other vehicles.

The car in the middle can be seen driving the wrong way on the M40 in Oxfordshire yesterday

Other motorists were forced to swerve out of the way as the car and caravan approached them

West Oxfordshire councillor Colin Dingwall said he was driving on the motorway at the time yesterday afternoon, and managed to get out of the driver's way.

Mr Dinwall, who is the council's cabinet member for housing, told the Oxford Mail the car had been bearing 'foreign plates'.

He added: 'I've seen a lot of things in my 50 years on the road, but I've never seen a caravan coming the wrong way up the M40.'

A video of the moment was filmed by Twitter user Alex Varga, who posted it online, saying: 'Dash cam footage moments before it happened.'

The 4x4 driver (pictured) was seen towing the caravan on the wrong side of the M40 yesterday

Commenting on the video, Andy Jardine, from Oundle, Northamptonshire, said: 'That was on the M40 northbound and I was on the southbound side.

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'Yet we had the overhead warnings telling us of an oncoming vehicle when it wasn't on our side. Saw the aftermath and it was as bad as you could get. Complete wreck.'

Highways England said there were 90 minutes of delays for drivers on the southbound carriageways, causing chaos for drivers on the way home from work.

Thames Valley Police senior investigating officer Sergeant Beth Walton, from the serious collision investigation unit, confirmed the three deaths at 11.37am today.

She said: 'We are in the early stages of the investigation, in which sadly three people died and our thoughts are with their families.

'We are in the process of contacting witnesses who provided a report to us and are grateful for their support.'

Yesterday in their first statement at 6.08pm, Thames Valley Police appealed for anyone with dashcam footage of the incident to contact the police.

A spokesman said: 'At just before 4pm the force received reports of a car towing a caravan travelling in the wrong direction on the northbound carriageway of the M40.

The car was involved in a crash (pictured) just minutes after police were alerted to the danger

'A few minutes later, the car towing the caravan was in collision with two other vehicles near junction six.

'We would urge anyone with footage of the collision, or of the car towing the caravan to contact police as soon as possible.

'We would ask that people refrain from sharing footage or photos of either the collision or the vehicles involved. Both carriageways of the M40 remain closed.'

MailOnline has asked Thames Valley Police a number of questions, including how the Subaru got onto the wrong side of the motorway and where it joined the road.

The road was closed yesterday but reopened at about 7am today. South Central Ambulance Service sent an air ambulance and has been asked for comment.

No arrests have been made in connection with the investigation. It was the second triple fatal incident to happen on the area's roads in four days.

Police were still investigating the M4 pile-up last Thursday which claimed three lives when a large truck slammed into the back of a minibus near Newbury, Berkshire.

A second fatal minibus crash happened two days later at the same spot but on the opposite carriageway. A woman in the bus, which overturned, was killed.

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Thames Valley Police have asked any witnesses or anyone with information about the incident to call them on 101 or click here, quoting reference 832 (15/10).