Man dies after being hit by freight train in Oxford

A man has died after the car he was in was struck by a freight train at a level crossing in an Oxfordshire village today.

The crash at the Sandy Lane crossing in Yarnton, north of Oxford, was reported to the British Transport Police at 3.40pm. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

A police spokesperson said, "It is believed two people were in the vehicle at the time. Sadly one of them, a man, was pronounced dead at the scene.

"The train involved was a Trafford Park to Southampton freight service, and the driver is reported to be shaken but uninjured.

"Officers are working to establish the full circumstances including how the car came to be on the tracks at the time."

National Rail Enquiries is warning train passengers on Cross Country and First Great Western services that they may face delays of up to one hour because of the crash.

Buses are replacing trains between Oxford and Banbury.

First Great Western said it was expecting the disruption to continue into the early hours of Thursday morning.