2 dead, 14 injured in southwest China road accident

GUIYANG, March 23, (Xinhua): A road accident in southwest China's Guizhou Province left two students dead and 14 others injured early Monday morning, local authorities said. The accident took place around 7 am in Hezhang County, Bijie City. All the injured are now in stable condition after being taken to the hospital for treatment.

According to the information office of the Hezhang county government, an overloaded minibus carrying students, driven by a 49-year-old man surnamed Zhang, collided with a large truck parked by the roadside. Police have detained Zhang, and tests have ruled out the possibilities of drunk or drugged driving.

According to the Ministry of Emergency Management, the Office of the State Council Work Safety Committee has decided to supervise the probe. The ministry called for a swift investigation to determine the cause and hold those responsible accountable. It has dispatched a joint working group, together with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Public Security, to the site to guide the related work.