A WOMAN has been killed in a crash on a stretch of road near Didcot where there have been a series of fatal accidents.

The 68-year-old woman from Wallingford was pronounced dead at the scene, on the A4130 at Hadden Hill, yesterday morning.

It was the fourth fatal accident on the stretch of road since 2005 and the eighth accident in 12 months.

In May 2012, Jack Varney, 19, and Rhys Roberts, 21, both from Didcot, died when the car they were in crashed into a wall.

 

Herald Series:

The car is taken away

At the start of last year, following campaigning by county councillor Patrick Greene, 40mph roundels were painted on the road between the Long Wittenham crossroads and the Tesco roundabout to remind drivers of the speed limit.

It is not known what caused the crash yesterday, which involved two cars at about 7.10am.

The woman was driving a red Suzuki Baleno from Wallingford towards Didcot and collided with a black Renault Traffic travelling in the opposite direction.

The road was closed for more than five hours while an investigation was carried out.

A man in his 20s was taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital with minor injuries but the woman, who has not yet been named, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Herald Series:

The van involved in the crash

Mr Greene, who represents the Moreton division, said there was a high volume of traffic on the road at present because of a road closure at Fulscot Bridge.

He said: “There is a diversion in place which means more drivers are turning into South Moreton.

“It is an unusual set of circumstances and it is going to go on for a month or so.

“We can tell people it is 40mph as much as we can, but people still have to drive safely.

“If people do not keep to the speed limit, especially around there where the vision isn’t great, then it is more dangerous.”

After the deaths of Mr Varney and Mr Roberts, friend Clifford Oakes, who leads charity group the Thong Rangers, organised a fundraiser in their memory.

Speaking yesterday, he said: “They have restricted the speed limit but it is down to the drivers themselves to abide by it.

“It is a dangerous road and it has taken a lot of lives.

“They should have speed cameras there – there are so many blind spots.”

Police are asking for witnesses to call them on 101.

Pc Sandra Terry, of Thames Valley Police roads policing team, said: “I would like to speak to anyone who may have been in the area and witnessed the collision, or seen either of the vehicles involved prior to the incident.”

In the past 11 years there have been 44 accidents, Oxfordshire County Council figures show.

The statistics include three fatal accidents, in 2005, 2006 and 2012.

The speed limit was reduced for 50mph to 40mph after Shane Vaughan, 19, died in a crash on Christmas Day 2006.

In 1992, Gary Jennings, 19, from Didcot, died in a crash near the entrance to Hadden Hill Golf Club, after an Austin Metro carrying eight people overturned.