Shropshire Star

Three killed after caravan towed wrong way on M40 causes multi-crash

Tragic multiple motorway accident sees all emergency services called to scene

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Three people were killed after a car towing a caravan the wrong way on the M40 collided with two other vehicles.

The Subaru Forester hit a Ford Mondeo and Ford Focus near junction 6 of the northbound carriageway of the M40 at Lewknor yesterday about 4pm.

The Subaru driver and passenger, who were in their 80s, and the Mondeo driver – a 30-year-old man – were all killed.

Thames Valley Police released a statement, saying: “At just before 4pm today the force received reports of a car towing a caravan travelling in the wrong direction on the northbound carriageway of the M40.”

Two clips were posted on Twitter showing the car travelling at high speed in the third lane and causing traffic to swerve out of the way.

The incident caused chaos, with reports of 14-mile tailbacks by 5pm. Highways England closed the northbound carriageway between junctions 6 and 8a, and delays of up to 90 minutes were reported on the southbound carriageway.

Part of the central reservation was cut out to let northbound traffic join the southbound flow.

West Oxfordshire councillor Colin Dingwall, who was travelling on the motorway at the time, told the Oxford Mail that the car had non-UK plates.

“I’ve seen a lot of things in my 50 years on the road, but never a caravan coming the wrong way up the M40.”

All the emergency services were called out, including an air ambulance. They had left the scene by 11.30pm. Emergency resurfacing work was finished by 5am, allowing the carriageway to be reopened.

Police appealed for anybody with dashcam clips to call them on 101, saying: “We would urge anyone with footage of the collision, or of the car towing the caravan, to contact police as soon as possible.”

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