A COACH driver bleeding 'badly' after a horror crash early this morning refused to leave the vehicle until all his passengers were out safely, according to a witness. 

Oxford University student Ali White, who was on board when the coach flipped on the M40 slip road at Milton Common, said the driver helped her and others clamber free of the wreckage.

The crash happened at about 2.45am but remained closed until around 5pm, when lanes reopened and traffic finally eased.

Miss White, 20, said: "When the first responders arrived, we were told to clamber out, but because of the angle the bus was lying at we were practically having to stand on other people who were still stuck in their seats. 

"We were walking over the overhead lockers and the coach was just a mess.

"When we got to the top, the bus driver was there and was bleeding pretty badly but he was helping people get out and didn't get out himseld until everyone else had.

"He held me as I got off the bus. And then what had happened really set in.

"People who had been on the bus, complete strangers, were just crying and hugging each other. It could have been so, so much worse."

Emergency services said 17 people, including the driver, were taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford for minor injuries. 

Police spokesman Gareth Ford-Lloyd said a crash investigation had been taking place this morning.

Oxford Bus Company said no one was seriously hurt, but injuries include a broken collarbone, spinal injury, minor head injuries and cuts and bruises.

Oxford Mail:

Traffic was being diverted to junctions 8 and 8A, at Wheatley, but repairs to barriers have now finished and the bus removed.

Part of the exit slip of junction 7 has reopened and traffic was clear by 5.30pm. 

Mr Ford-Lloyd added: "We do not know if the foggy conditions were a factor, but we would urge drivers to take care."

Sergeant Mark Skully told Sky News it was very foggy and icy on the roads and that he'd still seen people driving on the motorway without their lights on. 

He said: "Take more time on your journeys and put your lights on." 

The A329 at Milton Common was also closed in both directions, between the A40 London Road and the M40 junction. 

A spokesman from South Central Ambulance Service said: "We declared this a major incident due to the number of patients involved and attended the scene with our colleagues from Thames Valley Police and Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service.

"There was thick fog in the area at the time of the accident which also presented challenges to the emergency services getting to the scene.

"The male coach driver and 16 adult passengers had sustained a variety of minor injuries, such as cuts, bruises, broken bones and all 17 patients were taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital."

In a statement this morning, Oxford Bus Company managing director Phil Southall said: "Our thoughts are with those who have been injured, particularly at this time of year.

"We are doing everything we can to assist those involved in this unfortunate incident, and have been working closely with the emergency services at the scene in what has been a very challenging environment."

Mr Southall added the driver of the coach was 'very experienced' and had worked for the company for 20 years.

He said: "A full investigation has been started and it is too early at this stage to speculate on the cause of the incident."