Wrong way M40 death crash car had previous crash in High Wycombe

Police have revealed that a car involved in a fatal collision on the M40 had also been involved in a collision in High Wycombe a few days earlier.

On Monday 15th October 2018, shortly before 4.00pm, Thames Valley Police received reports that a Subaru Forester towing a caravan was travelling in the wrong direction on the northbound carriageway of the M40 between Junction 6 (Watlington) and Junction 8A (Oxford).

A few minutes later, the Subaru Forester was in collision with two other cars, a Ford Mondeo and a Ford Focus near Junction 6.

The driver and a passenger in the Subaru, both aged in their eighties, died. The driver of the Ford Mondeo also died. He was formally identified on Wednesday 19th October 2018 as Stuart Richards, aged 32, from Stockport, Cheshire.

However Thames Valley Police have how disclosed that, on Wednesday 10th October 2018, a report was made to Thames Valley Police of a damage only road traffic collision involving the Subaru Forester in High Wycombe.

Due to the previous contact, Thames Valley Police have made a mandatory referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) in relation to the fatal collision. The IOPC will now make a decision as to whether they will carry out an investigation.