The incident occurred at around 6.45pm on Friday evening as the traffic flow on the M40 Northbound between the Cherwell Valley Services and Banbury came to a stop.
A car could be seen on fire with large flames coming from within as the emergency services raced to the scene.
One motorist told the Oxford Mail that “multiple fire engines and police cars with blue lights” had rushed down the hard shoulder to the incident.
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🚨INCIDENT
There has been a road-traffic incident on the #M40 Northbound between J10 #CherwellValleyServices and J11 #Banbury, causing long delays. @HighwaysEAST attending.
Approach with caution. #OxonTravel pic.twitter.com/o8OsKpAaJB
— OxonTravel (@OxonTravel) August 23, 2024
They added that the traffic was at a “standstill” and that people were “getting out of their cars to have a look”.
A statement released at the time by Oxon Travel on X said: “There has been a road-traffic incident on the M40 Northbound between J10 Cherwell Valley Services and J11 Banbury, causing long delays.
“National Highways are attending, approach with caution.”
Thames Valley Police were on the scene as drivers reported facing traffic congestion for just over an hour before the car fire was extinguished.
The lanes were unblocked by around 8pm after the emergency services dealt with the incident and traffic resumed to a normal flow.
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Inrix, the traffic data company, added: “Long delays due to earlier vehicle fire on M40 Northbound between J10 B430 (Brackley / Cherwell Valley Services) and J11 A422 (Banbury).
“Road was fully blocked earlier all lanes have reopened.”
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