M40: Man dies after 'fear for welfare incident' on motorway

M40 traffic <i>(Image: NQ / Twitter @black_country_4)</i>
M40 traffic (Image: NQ / Twitter @black_country_4)
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A man has died after a motorway on the Oxfordshire border was closed for several hours, police have confirmed. 

The M40 was closed between junction six for Chinnor and junction five for Stokenchurch due to a 'fear for welfare incident' yesterday. 

A spokesman for Thames Valley Police said: "I can confirm that the man died yesterday at the roadside. There are no suspicious circumstances and the death is being investigated on behalf of the Oxfordshire Coroner."

In a fuller statement on the Thames Valley Incident Alert social media page, it said: “At around 2.57pm yesterday (27/7), we were called to a sudden death on the M40 between Junction 5 and Junction 6.

READ MORE: M40 Stokenchurch now open after police 'fear for welfare' closure

“Sadly, the body of a man in his fifties was found.

“His family are being supported by specially trained officers and our thoughts are with them at this extremely difficult time.

“The death is being treated as unexpected but not suspicious and a file has been prepared for the coroner.”

Yesterday, police described it as a 'fear for welfare incident'. 

A spokesman for Thames Valley Police said the force could not provide any further details on the circumstances of the death because "the matter is now with the coroner" when asked for further details by this newspaper. 

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