Three people were killed and 36 others injured in a six-vehicle pile up on a national highway in southwest China's Sichuan Province on Friday morning.

 

The accident occurred at about 3:00 AM Friday on a highway from Guang'an City to Nanchong City in Sichuan, when a pickup truck rammed into the rear of a truck which triggered another two accidents, involving a bus and three trucks, said local traffic police.

 

Three people in the pickup truck were trapped in the vehicle.

 

Two of the trapped people were killed, said rescuers.

 

Police said another person was killed and many were injured when a bus collided into a truck since after failing to steer clear of the pileup.

 

Another accident left a driver in critical condition after two trucks piled up.

 

The Nanchong No. 5 People's Hospital admitted 36 injured people on Friday afternoon.

 

An investigation into the cause of the accident is underway.

 

(Xinhua News Agency May 26, 2007)