Woman misses flight as traffic chaos follows lorry crash on dual …
Traffic chaos followed a crash on a busy dual carriageway yesterday – with one woman missing a flight to Spain.
A caravan travelling south on the A34 near Didcot[1] went through the central reservation, according to the AA, at some time before 4pm.
The collision also left a lorry overturned, and a car flipped on its side in the bushes and trees at the side of the road.
Emergency services, including the police and fire service, attended the crash, which took place near to Chilton.
Both southbound lanes were closed, while damage to the dividing barrier meant that lane two of the northern carriageway was also out of action.
Diversions were put in place, and motorists were advised to avoid the area by Oxon Travel, Oxfordshire County[3] Council’s travel account.
By 4.45pm, the traffic already stretched over two-and-a-half miles to the Milton Interchange.
Roderick Hewson, a motorist caught in the traffic, said: “Nothing moving here. Complete standstill for 25 minutes so far. Two fire engines have had to get through the traffic to reach the incident”
One social media user added that the incident ‘looked serious’ and that fire engines ‘couldn't get through the traffic’, while another reported that delays were expected to last four hours.
With traffic at a standstill, some motorists left their vehicles and could be seen walking on the dual carriageway.
That included Amelia Morgan, who missed her flight to Spain after getting caught in the traffic.
She said: “Completely at a standstill meant to be getting on a flight in two hours guess I’m not going to Spain.”
She later added: “Me missing my flight isn’t the main worry as I haven’t heard what the incident was I just hope whoever was involved or there family are doing okay I just send all my wishes.”
At around 5pm, police began turning vehicles around, but said it was a ‘slow process’.
A statement said: "We are currently dealing with a collision on the A34 southbound carriageway between Milton and Chilton which has led to a full closure at Milton Interchange.
"For those waiting in the traffic, we are in the process of turning vehicles around but it is a slow process. Thank you for your patience."
The diversions remained in place overnight while the incident was cleared, and the road was reopened at around 6.40am the following morning.
A National Highways East statement said: “There are no significant delays in the area this morning.
“Thanks for your patience.”
References
- ^ Didcot (www.oxfordmail.co.uk)
- ^ Banbury: Motorcyclist arrested for 'dangerous riding' (www.oxfordmail.co.uk)
- ^ County (www.oxfordmail.co.uk)
- ^ Oxfordshire: Man assaulted at Stoke Row Steam Rally (www.oxfordmail.co.uk)
- ^ Oxford: Man convicted for 'stealing bank cards' from elderly (www.oxfordmail.co.uk)