Chinese truck driver held over crash that left 12 dead
Car transporter crossed highway and collided with several vehicles travelling in the opposite direction
A truck driver has been detained after a road accident that left 12 people dead in central China on Tuesday.
Eleven people were also injured when a car transporter collided with three smaller vehicles on the Jinggang’ao highway in Xinxiang, Henan province.
The accident happened at around 8.30am when the transporter, driving on the eastern side of the road, crossed the fence which separates traffic and collided with three vehicles travelling on the opposite side, local authorities announced on Weibo, China’s version of Twitter.
The authorities did not specify what type of vehicle had been hit, but according to a video published by The Beijing News, they were minivans and cars.
All the casualties are thought to have been travelling in the smaller vehicles.
Local police said the truck driver was being held in custody for investigation.
All of the 11 people who were injured have been sent to hospital, and one of them was in a critical condition.
The video footage showed the vehicles had suffered serious damage in the incident, with one having been turned over, and debris was left scattered in the road.
One victim was seen lying on the road, while others appeared to have been trapped in a minivan.
The road was blocked following the accident, which caused tailbacks that stretched for several kilometres.
The road did not reopen until four and a half hours later, authorities said.