Six people died and two were seriously injured when a bus and a van collided in southwest China's Sichuan Province Friday, an official of Sichuan Work Safety Bureau said.

The official said the accident occurred at 7 a.m. in Wenjiang district, of Chengdu City, when the bus crossed a central barrier and hit a van coming in the opposite direction.

The official said eight people were aboard the two vehicles. Five of them died at the scene and three were seriously injured. The injured were rushed to hospital, where one died and two are in critical condition.

The official said Chengdu police and authorities from Chengdu Work Safety Bureau were investigating the cause of the accident. No other details were immediately available.

(Xinhua News Agency August 14, 2009)