June 19

Police in the northern Japanese prefecture of Hokkaido are investigating a head-on collision between an inter-city bus and a truck that killed five people. Police believe dashboard camera data and the circumstances at the scene indicate the crash occurred after the truck veered into the oncoming lane.

The incident took place at around noon on Sunday in Yakumo Town.

Fifteen passengers were on board the bus. Police say two women in their 50s, a man in his 30s, and the male drivers of the two vehicles in their 60s died. They also say an 80-year-old woman was hospitalized with serious injuries, and the other 11 were slightly injured.

The bus was heading to Hakodate from Sapporo City. The truck was transporting pigs.

Police say the collision occurred on a slight curve with good visibility.

xinhua