Beijing:
At least 12 people were killed and three badly injured Saturday in a six-car pileup on a major north-south highway in a southern China province.
The accident occurred shortly after 2 am near the city of Heyuan, the Guangdong provincial government said in a statement posted to its microblog. No other details were given, although photos from the scene showed a charred flat-bed truck loaded with steel coils and other burned-out vehicles that were apparently involved in the crash.
The World Health Organization says China has the second-most annual traffic fatalities after India, with more than 96,000 reported in 2010, the last year for which figures were available. The US had more than 42,000, while Britain had fewer than 3,300.
Dangerous driving and disregard for traffic rules are the major causes of accidents in China, along with poorly maintained vehicles and fatigued drivers.
The accident occurred shortly after 2 am near the city of Heyuan, the Guangdong provincial government said in a statement posted to its microblog. No other details were given, although photos from the scene showed a charred flat-bed truck loaded with steel coils and other burned-out vehicles that were apparently involved in the crash.
The World Health Organization says China has the second-most annual traffic fatalities after India, with more than 96,000 reported in 2010, the last year for which figures were available. The US had more than 42,000, while Britain had fewer than 3,300.
Dangerous driving and disregard for traffic rules are the major causes of accidents in China, along with poorly maintained vehicles and fatigued drivers.
