POLICE have launched an investigation after yesterday's Faringdon crash which left an elderly man with serious injuries. 

The 77-year-old remains in hospital in a serious condition, police said, after the crash on A417, Lechlade Road, yesterday afternoon.

Herald Series:

At about 2.40pm police received a report of a collision involving a three series BMW which had sustained substantial damage.

Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service also sent two engines to the scene of the crash. 

Firefighters were first in attendance after a 999 call was made by a passer by out walking. 

The driver of the vehicle was trapped and had to be cut from the wreckage using specialist hydraulic cutting equipment.

He was taken to hospital for treatment.

Investigating officer sergeant Bryan Smith, of the Joint Operations Unit for Roads Policing, said: “We are working to establish the circumstances of this collision, and I would urge anyone who witnessed it to come forward and talk to police.

“We would also like to speak to anyone who has dashcam footage of the incident."

READ AGAIN: A417 Lechlade Road near Faringdon closed after car crash

The road, which was closed for more than six hours yesterday, was expected to reopen late last night.

Incident Commander Station Manager Paul Webster said “Oxfordshire is a beautiful place to live and we are fortunate to be surrounded by open countryside much of the time when driving. 

"Many of us feel safe when we are on a rural road but it is often a deadly mix of long straight runs, where we can pick up speed, punctuated by sharp bends.

"If you aren’t familiar with the road. I would recommend that drivers take care on the roads and allow extra time for journeys. Remember the fatal four – it’s not worth the risk.”

Anyone with any information should call 101 quoting reference 746 29/4.