Five people including a child were killed in an expressway pile-up on Wednesday in north China's Shanxi Province, while 14 others died in a road accident in central Hubei Province.

The pile-up involving four vehicles took place at around 11 AM in Yangqu County, killing two people on the spot. The other three died from serious injuries later after medical efforts failed, according to local police.

About 40 minutes later, a truck plunged down a slope in Hubei, killing 14 people and leaving 17 others injured.

The truck carrying 31 people fell off the cliff on the way from Wudaoshui Town to Taiping Town in Hefeng County.

The 17 wounded passengers have been taken to a local hospital.

Police are investigating the causes of the two accidents.

(Xinhua News Agency February 8, 2007)