A head-on collision between a bus and a truck carrying sand in East China’s Anhui province killed 24 people on Thursday.

The crash happened at about 6:30 am near Wangzhai town in Xiaoxian county, according to a statement from the county government.

Two people on the truck and 21 on the bus died at the scene. Among three injured taken to hospital, one later died.

Many of the bus passengers were crushed in the impact, according to a report by China Central Television.

The cause of the accident is still under investigation.

Wangzhai resident Qian Chao said overloaded trucks and speeding were commonly seen in the area of the accident.

Road traffic accidents accounted for 62,000 deaths and 237,000 injuries in China last year, according to the Ministry of Public Security figures.