At least 13 people were killed and three others injured when an overloaded minivan collided with a truck in central China’s Henan province. The crash occurred in the early hours of Thursday on a major expressway, according to traffic police. Authorities have launched an investigation into the deadly incident.
The van was carrying 16 passengers despite a maximum capacity of nine, officials said. It rear-ended a semi-trailer truck on the G40 expressway in the city of Nanyang at around 2:40 am local time. The impact caused severe damage and multiple fatalities at the scene.
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Traffic authorities said the vehicle struck the truck from behind while travelling at speed on the highway. Emergency services were immediately dispatched to the crash site to rescue survivors and recover victims. The injured were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.
China’s Ministry of Public Security said it had formed a special task force to oversee the investigation. Officials said they were treating the incident with urgency and reviewing safety compliance issues. Preliminary findings pointed to overloading and possible driver negligence.
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Road accidents remain a recurring safety concern in China, particularly on long-distance expressways. Authorities have previously linked such incidents to overloaded vehicles and violations of traffic regulations. The latest crash has renewed focus on road safety enforcement and transport oversight.