Beijing, Feb 9 (IANS): At least 15 people were killed and more than 60 others injured Friday when eight vehicles collided with one another on an icy expressway in China, Xinhua reported.
The chain accident occurred around 4.40 a.m. as buses, sedan cars and a minivan crashed together on a viaduct on the expressway from Changde to Zhangjiajie in Hunan province.
Police said 12 people were killed in the crashes, while three others died after falling off the viaduct, which is dozens of metres above the ground, after they tried to break free in the darkness.
Most of the victims were travelling home for the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year.
Traffic police said the pileup was caused after the vehicles failed to make emergency stops on the ice-coated roads.