Twenty-one people have been killed and five others injured early Wednesday when a truck collided with an overcrowded three-wheel vehicle in Wuqiang County in north China's Hebei Province.

The accident occurred at about 4:00 AM, smashing the vehicle,which had 24 peasants aboard, killing 14 instantly.

Seven more died at the hospital.

Two others are in stable condition and three are undergoing surgery.

Cause of the deadly accident is still under investigation.

(Xinhua News Agency August 4, 2004)