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2 killed in N China truck pile-up

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-02-20 22:46

HOHHOT -- Two people were killed and three others injured Friday morning in a five truck pile-up in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, local police said.

A truck broke down and pulled over at about 6 a.m. on a highway in Xilingol, said a local police officer surnamed Wang.

A coal truck, driving in the same direction, ran into the truck and then overturned off the highway. The driver, stuck in the cabin, suffered injuries.

About 20 minutes later, another coal truck, also driving in the same direction, tried to make a U-turn to avoid the accident. It was hit by a coal truck traveling behind it, which was also trying to make a U-turn.

At this time, a fifth coal truck, driving at a fast speed, collided with the fourth truck which was turning around. The driver and a colleague in the fifth truck died at the site. Two other people, also in the same truck were injured, one seriously.

The three injured people were receiving treatment in a local hospital.

Police said the liability was yet to be established because of the  driver's death.

An investigation is still underway.