'Lucky escape for drivers' after 2 lorries crash

The lorries collided in the early hours of the morning Credit: Oxfordshire fire & rescue service

Part of the M40 in Oxfordshire was closed for much of the morning after two lorries collided, with one ending up on its side after sliding down a grassy bank. The Thames Valley Fire Control Service said it had several calls alerting the emergency services to the incident at 4.59am.

The accident happened between Bicester and Thame. One lorry had hit the central reservation and was completely blocking the road, while the other had overturned.

More than twenty firefighters were called to the scene in four fire engines from Slade, Thame, Wheatley. A specialist rescue vehicle from Kidlington was also deployed. The emergency crews checked that the vehicles were not leaking fuel or carrying any hazardous loads.

Paramedics from the South Central Ambulance Service checked the walking wounded to see if they had been injured.

The incident commander, Station Manager Paul Webster said the drivers could have been seriously injured.