Probe launched after major lorry crash on Oxfordshire A34
At around 2am on Friday, January 16, emergency services were called to an incident near to Chilton, close to the Berkshire border. Three lorries had crashed and subsequently the northbound section of the road from the M4 Junction 13 to the A4185 Chilton Interchange was shut. A lane on the A34 southbound was also closed due to damage with ambulances services later confirming no-one had been hurt.
National Highways said they were conducting a "complex operation" after one of the lorries came to rest off and adjacent to the carriageway down an embankment. They said: "Its final position makes the recovery process significantly more challenging and slower than a standard roadside removal." 
The central reservation barrier was badly damaged and specialist barrier staff will be attending the scene once recovery is completed. National Highways later confirmed that 200 metres of the barrier had been damaged and that repairs would continue into January 17. The spokesperson added: "After the HGV recovery is finished and the northbound carriageway can safely reopen, lane 2 closures will remain in place in both directions to allow for barrier repairs.
"These repairs are planned to take place overnight from the 16th into the 17th of January. "Throughout the day lane 2 will remain closed in both directions to protect the compromised barrier and allow engineers to carry out surveys, measurements, and essential preparation for repairs." 
Following the initial incident Thames Valley Police confirmed that they had launched an investigation into the collision, but no arrests had been made. A spokesperson said: "Thankfully, this was a damage only collision, just after 2.10am this morning, although it did involve three lorries, which temporarily blocked the A34. "We have now left the scene and National Highways are managing.
The cause of the collision is under investigation, but no arrests have been made." ? Start 2026 informed: Get 50 per cent off an annual subscription or enjoy 3 months for just ?3 with the Oxford Mail.
Dive into local news and fulfil your resolution to stay updated. Offer valid until Jan 31st. #LocalInsights&l... #NewYearDealhttps://t.co/mnDXSsWj1V pic.twitter.com/OFQ6VklE8f[2][3][4] -- Oxford Mail (@TheOxfordMail) January 14, 2026[5]
There was heavy traffic[6] heading into Oxfordshire on Friday morning and National Highways later advised on a diversion route. Motorists were told to leave the A34 northbound at the M4 junction 13 interchange and join the M4 westbound. They were advised to leave the motorway at Junction 14 and use the A338 to go to Wantage from where they would use the A417 to Rowstock.
The A34 northbound could then be re-joined at the Milton interchange.
References
- ^ LIVE: 'Significant' and 'complex' crash involving several lorries closes A34 (www.oxfordmail.co.uk)
- ^ #LocalInsights&l... (twitter.com)
- ^ #NewYearDealhttps://t.co/mnDXSsWj1V (twitter.com)
- ^ pic.twitter.com/OFQ6VklE8f (t.co)
- ^ January 14, 2026 (twitter.com)
- ^ traffic (www.oxfordmail.co.uk)