Boy arrested after motorcyclist died in Oxfordshire crash

Emergency services were called to a collision on Wantage Road, A417, north of Streatley on the South Oxfordshire border, at about 7.50am on Friday, April 24.

A blue Kawasaki motorcycle was involved in the crash, and the rider of the bike, a man in his 60s, died as a result of the collision.

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Thames Valley Police said the man’s next of kin have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers.

Wantage Road in South Oxfordshire, on the border north of Streatley (Image: Google)

The force has now confirmed that a 17-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

He has been released under investigation.

Along with details of the arrest, police confirmed that the incident was a single-vehicle, fatal collision.

Earlier this week, Investigating officer police sergeant Rob Oliver-Clayson, of Thames Valley Police, has urged witnesses to come forward as part of their investigation.

He said: “Firstly, I would like to express my sincere condolences to the family of the man who sadly died in this collision.

“I am appealing to anyone who may have witnessed this collision, or the moments leading up to it, to please get in touch.

“If you saw anything, or have any information that may assist our investigation, please come forward. If you captured dash-cam footage, you can upload it to our dedicated online portal.”

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Thames Valley Police has asked anyone with information to contact them by calling 101 or making a report online through their website.

Witnesses should quote the reference number 43260199539.

Wantage Road is a rural, single-carriageway stretch which runs between Streatley in Berkshire and Blewbury in Oxfordshire, alongside the River Thames.

It’s the second fatal crash to occur on the A417 road in Oxfordshire’s roads this month alone, after a man in his 70s was killed on the road in East Hendred, where it is called Reading Road.

The man was involved in the crash as a pedestrian, along with a silver Volkswagen car, in East Hendred on April 9.

Police said that earlier crash took place at about 7.20pm, when officers received a call from South Central Ambulance Service asking them to attend the road traffic collision.

Tributes were paid to the pedestrian who died, named locally as ‘Chris’, who was described as ‘the kindest man with a heart of gold’.

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Lucy Dunsdon said: “I’m so sorry for your loss. Chris was the kindest man with a heart of gold. He’ll be sadly missed by many.”

Another tribute from Keith Sessions added: “Chris was a great guy, I always remember our chats when he left his day working at the chicken farm, always farming or walking the greyhounds. Rest in peace, taken so tragically.”

Anyone with information on the fatal crash in East Hendred is asked to contact police quoting the reference number 43260172791.