Five people were killed and two others injured after a police van collided with a truck in the northern Hebei Province, said local sources on Tuesday.

The van belongs to a grass-roots law court of Shenzhou City. The head of the court said the van was in private use against regulations when the accident occurred.

The official, who declined to give his name, said the driver was taking his neighbors to a wedding ceremony before he began work. The official admitted that it reflected the problems in police vehicle management.

The accident happened at about 8 a.m. Monday, when a police van from the People's Court of Wangjiajing district, Shenzhou city, with seven on board, collided with a truck.

Four people, including the driver, were killed at the scene, while one more died after medical treatment failed in hospital. Two others were injured and taken to hospital. They were described as in "stable conditions". The truck driver was unhurt.

The cause of the accident is under investigation.

(Xinhua News Agency November 26, 2008)