Mother and three children killed in crash pictured as father and baby fight for life

Zoe Powell, 29, died alongside Phoebe, eight, Amelia, four, and Simeon, six, after family people carrier collided with lorry on A40 near Oxford

Zoe Powell, 29, with her husband Josh and their three children Phoebe, eight, Simeon, six, Amelia, four, who were involved in a crash on the A40 near Oxford. (Sarah Mak Photography/PA)

A mother and her three children have been named after they died in a car crash which has also left her husband and their baby fighting for life.  

Zoe Powell, 29, died alongside her daughters Phoebe, eight, and Amelia, four, and her son Simeon, six, after the family’s Subaru people carrier collided with a lorry on the A40 near Oxford.  

Her husband Josh, 30, and their 18-month-old daughter were both critically injured and are fighting for their lives at Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital.  

The driver of the white HGV, a 56-year-old man, suffered minor injuries after the vehicles collided near a railway bridge at about 9.50pm on Monday night.  

The Powell family reportedly moved to the village of Chinnor, in Oxfordshire, from Sheffield a few years ago.

The village’s parish council said it was "saddened and shocked" by news of the fatal crash.  

It wrote in a Facebook post: "The Chinnor Community Church on the High Street has created a space for flowers to be laid for the family. CCC has a cross outside that anyone can come and lay flowers if they wish. Our thoughts and prayers to everyone."  

Meanwhile, Oxford City Council leader Susan Brown tweeted: "Horrible, horrible news and my thoughts are not just with the family and friends but with all those professionals doing their jobs who have seen sights they will sadly never forget."  

Police said they responded quickly after receiving "multiple" calls from the public. 

Zoe Powell, 29, who was killed in a crash on the A40 near Oxford alongside her children Phoebe, eight, Simeon, six, and Amelia, four. (Sarah Mak Photography/PA)

Sergeant Dominic Mahon, of Thames Valley Police’s serious collision investigation unit, said officers were in the very early stages of a probe into what he described as an "incredibly tragic" and "horrendous" incident.  

He said: "I would appeal to anybody who was driving in the area at the time of the collision and witnessed what happened to please contact 101, or make a report online, quoting reference number 43200321914.  

"I would also urge anybody who has dash-cam footage of the incident or either of the vehicles just prior to the incident to please not share this publicly, but contact police with this detail."  

Sgt Mahon warned against speculating about the cause of the crash, adding: "We will leave no stone unturned to ascertain what has caused this tragedy.  

A police witness appeal sign at the scene of the crash on the A40 near Oxford (Steve Parsons/PA)

"The next of kin of the family have been made aware and are being supported by specially trained family liaison officers.  

"The thoughts of all of us at Thames Valley Police, along with our partners who have assisted at the scene or at the hospital, are with the families at this incredibly difficult time.  

"I would like to also pay tribute to our officers, first responders and medical professionals, who dealt with this collision.  

"Our officers and colleagues from the other emergency services were dealing with an extremely upsetting scene, and I would like to thank them for the work that they carried out overnight."  

Additional reporting by Press Association