27 dead in road accidents in China

BEIJING - At least 27 people were killed and 36 injured in two road accidents in northeast China Firday, authorities said.

In Jilin province, a truck collided with a bus on an expressway near the provincial capital, Changchun, at about 2:50 p.m., leaving 17 people dead and 35 injured, Xinhua reported quoting traffic police.

Three of the victims were in the truck and the rest were aboard the bus having capacity to carry 45 passengers.

Initial investigation found the bus had a flat tire and hit the divider on the expressway, dashing against a car and then the truck.

In a separate accident, a truck collided with a mini-bus at about 1:30 p.m. near Jiamusi city of Heilongjiang province, killing 10 people.

Nine people aboard the mini-bus died on the spot and one died in a hospital, a government spokesman said.