Chinnor mother and three children who tragically died in A40 crash near Oxford formally identified

Zoe Powell, aged 29, from Chinnor, and three of her children, Phoebe Powell, aged eight, Simeon Powell, aged six and Amelia Powell, aged four, tragically died in the collision between a silver Subaru and a white heavy goods’ vehicle, which occurred at around 9.50pm on Monday (12/10).

Two others who were travelling in the Subaru, 30-year-old Josh Powell, who was a passenger, and his 18-month old daughter, who we are not naming, suffered serious injuries, and remain in the John Radcliffe Hospital, where they are both in a stable condition.

Senior investigating officer Sergeant Dominic Mahon of the Serious Collision Investigation Unit based at Bicester, said: “I would like to thank all those who have contacted police to provide witness statements and helped us with this investigation.

“Thank you also to those that stopped at the scene to offer help at what was a very distressing incident.

“I would like to pay tribute again to all of our officers and staff who have been dealing with this incident, and also extend this to our colleagues in South Central Ambulance Service, Oxfordshire Fire & Rescue Service, the John Radcliffe Hospital and Highways England.

"I also thank the Thames Valley Air Ambulance critical care team who attended the incident too, along with Dr Wassim Shamsuddin from Milton Keynes University Hospital who answered a call for an emergency doctor to attend the scene.

“I would also like to extend this thanks, on behalf of the Powell family, to all those who have sent their kind sentiments to the force via our official channels.

“This investigation is ongoing, and I would again urge people to not speculate as to the cause of this tragic collision.

“We have not made any arrests, and so speculation is not only unhelpful, but also would cause great distress to all those involved.

“We are continuing to support the family of all of the victims, and will continue to do so while they come to terms with the enormity of what has happened.

“We are also supporting the driver of the HGV, who has co-operated fully with our investigation and provided a witness statement to police.

“We know that this tragedy has affected not only the local community in Chinnor, but also the wider Oxfordshire community and across the country, and I would re-iterate my personal thanks to all those who paid their respects to the victims, both online and in the village of Chinnor.

“We will continue to ensure that we thoroughly investigate the cause of this collision, and would again ask for the privacy of the family to be respected fully at this incredibly difficult time.”