Highway pileup kills 7, injures 14 in C China

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-01-11 07:32

Damaged vehicles are seen at the site of a traffic accident on the expressway between Wuhan and Shiyan in central China's Hubei Province, January 10, 2010. [Xinhua]

WUHAN: At least seven people died and 14 others injured in a highway pileup involving 11 vehicles in central China's Hubei province Saturday, local traffic authorities said Sunday.

The pileup started at about 10:00 pm Saturday when a truck lost control on the icy Zhang'ao bridge near Zaoyang city and turned over after hitting the barrier, said a spokesman with the provincial traffic police.

A BPV (business purpose vehicle) crashed into the truck and then was hit by a sedan, the spokesman said.

The accident blocked the traffic on the highway, which links Hubei's Shiyan city and the provincial capital Wuhan, and caused a series of rear-end collisions.

Ten minutes later, another truck, which pulled over on the highway due to the accident, was hit from behind by a car and a bus. A third truck, failing to slow down, hit the bus in the rear, killing two passengers and injuring 14 on the bus. One passenger died after jumping off the bridge in panic.

At 10:12 pm, a car crashed into a fourth truck which pulled over in the bridge's emergency lane. Three people in the car were killed on the spot.

One minute later, a sports utility vehicle (SUV), which also stopped in the emergency lane, was hit from behind by a fifth truck. The truck was then hit by a following truck. One person in the SUV was killed.

The injured have been taken to a local hospital for treatment.

Further probe into the crash is still underway.

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