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Dust rises from absorbent material laid down to soak up an acid spill on the A34

One man was killed, several others were injured and acid leaked across the carriageway in a series of accidents which shut part of the A34 for almost eight hours.

A 20-year-old man, originally from South Wales but working in Oxfordshire, died when a black Vauxhall Corsa flipped and rolled about 50m on the southbound carriageway near Drayton just after 2.30am on Saturday.

Three other occupants, two women and a man, were taken to Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital with minor injuries.

Shortly afterwards, a lorry and a breakdown truck transporting a Hyundai collided on the same carriageway.

Police are investigating whether the collision was caused by tailbacks from the first crash.

The 46-year-old lorry driver received head injuries and was taken to the John Radcliffe. He was released yesterday.sun The breakdown truck driver and his passenger, the driver of the Hyundai, were treated for minor injuries at the hospital and released.

An hour later, a lorry stuck in the tailback began to leak hydrocholoric acid.

The lorry was not involved in a collision and the spillage was dealt with by Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service.

The southbound carriageway between Marcham Interchange and Didcot was closed for almost eight hours.

There were also delays on the northbound route.

Sgt Kerry Clarke, of Abingdon Roads Policing, said: "This was a complex operation. A young man has died and others have been injured so we need anyone who saw either incident to contact us."

Yesterday, the victim's identity had not been released.

Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue sent crews from Abingdon and Kidlington and a heavy rescue unit from Didcot. The police helicopter also took one of the injured motorists to hospital.

A spokesman for South Central Ambulance Service said one person was thrown from the car in the first crash and two others were trapped in the wreckage.

Witnesses should call police on 08458 505505 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

5:42pm Sunday 27th April 2008

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