Police manhunt launched for man, 23, who fled scene of six-car pile-up on M40

Police have launched a manhunt for a driver involved in a fatal six-car crash on the M40 over the weekend.

Five cars and a Peugeot van had been drawn into the motorway collision just after sunset on Saturday near the village of Gaydon in Warwickshire.

In the crash, one of the car’s passengers, a woman in her 50s, tragically died at the scene.

Warwickshire Police confirmed they’re looking for 23-year-old Akashdeep Singh, who is thought to have fled the scene of the crash on foot.

A police statement has urged the public to help officers find Singh, adding that he also goes by “Akash” and has “connections to the West Midlands – particularly the Oldbury area”.

Warwickshire Police’s statement asks: “Have you seen Akashdeep Singh or do you know where he is?”

It continues: “We would like to talk to the 23-year-old as we believe he may have information about a collision that took place on the M40 motorway shortly before 7.15pm on Saturday evening.

“Officers and emergency services were called to the northbound carriageway between junction 11 (Banbury) and junction 12 (Gaydon) after several reports of a multiple vehicle collision.

MORE FROM WARWICKSHIRE AND THE WEST MIDLANDS:

Ex-Met detective demands Britain’s youngest knife killers are named ‘so we can cross the road to avoid them’‘Bitter disappointment’ as GMB Union stages tram strikes in busy cityPolicing minister has purse stolen while at annual policing conference

“The collision involved five cars and a Peugeot Boxer van, however the Peugeot driver is believed to have left the area on foot.

“Sadly a passenger in one of the cars – a woman in her 50s – died at the scene.

“Her next of kin has been informed and specially trained officers are supporting the family at this time.

“Investigations into the collision are continuing with officers keen to locate Singh, who also goes by the name of Akash and has connections to the West Midlands – particularly the Oldbury area.

“If members of the public have information to help us find him or can share details about the collision, please get in touch.

“We’d also ask anyone who has dashcam footage of the collision, the Peugeot and the manner it was being driven prior to the collision to share it with us.”

The force said that anyone with any information that can help can get in touch online or by 101, quoting incident number 303 of September 28.