Seven people were killed and four others were injured in a five-vehicle pileup in north China's Shanxi Province, local government confirmed on Friday.

 

The accident happened at around 9:40 PM on Thursday at Hongdong County of Linfen City when a truck carrying ore blew a tire and stopped suddenly, according to local traffic police.

 

Witnesses said four vehicles following the truck, including two heavily loaded trucks, a bus and a car, slammed into each other in a chain reaction.

 

Both drivers of the trucks, which were loaded with ore and steel pipes were killed as were three passengers in the car.

 

Three bus passengers and another truck driver were seriously injured. They are being treated at the People's Hospital of Hongdong County.

 

Bus passenger, Wan Hongxiu suffered head injuries and remains in a coma. Her 28-year-old husband Su Jinhu escaped injury but is suffering from shock.

 

"I heard a huge sound like a bomb exploding and I thought it was from a burst tire," said Su. "The coach overturned and my wife, who was beside me, was thrown out the open window and hit her head on the road."

 

Altogether 18 people were on the bus. Su and several passengers broke the windows to help the other passengers out.

 

The cause of the accident is being investigated.

 

(Xinhua News Agency January 6, 2007)