Thaindian News

NANCHANG, CHINA (BNO NEWS) — At least 17 people died, including four children, on Saturday in a multiple-vehicle crash in eastern China, police said.

The state-run Xinhua News Agency reported that a semi-trailer rear-ended another, overturned and slid into the opposite lane of the Shanghai-Kunming expressway in Jiangxi Province at around 4:30 a.m. The truck was then smashed into by a lorry, which rolled after impact and slammed into a passenger mini-bus, according to traffic police with Jiangxi Public Security Department.

Twelve people died at the scene, while five died in hospital. Four children in the mini-bus and the bus driver have been confirmed dead, according to the traffic police.

Two people were hospitalized and are in a stable condition. Two others suffered minor injuries, Xinhua reported.

Yang Jianyun, a traffic policeman with Jiangxi Public Security Department, said the mini-bus was overloaded with 13 people on board, including four children. It was also suspected of speeding.

Police are further investigating the crash.