A 37 year-old woman died after a crash that left two young children in hospital

The motorway was closed off at junction 11 for much of Saturday after a silver Ford Focus C-Max left the carriageway and hit a tree shortly before 2.10pm.

A 37-year-old woman died at the scene and the car's three other occupants, two girls aged three and five and a man in his late thirties, were taken to John Radcliffe hospital in Oxford.

The two children remained in the hospital but the man has since been discharged.

Det Sgt Ashley Hannibal from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit said: “We are appealing for any witnesses who have not yet been spoken to by police to get in touch please.

“This was a single vehicle collision in which, sadly, a woman in her thirties died. I would like to take the opportunity to thank the many members of the public who stopped and helped immediately after the collision prior to the emergency services’ arrival.”

Two air ambulances, two road ambulances and a rapid response vehicle were swiftly dispatched to the scene yesterday afternoon.

The carriageway was closed for four hours after the crash.

Anyone with any information should phone 101 and quote URN 870 7/5.