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Minibus, truck crash in southwest Russia, killing 11 people

A minibus with Ukrainian car plates, carrying 14 passengers, reportedly Ukrainian citizens, crossed into the oncoming traffic lane and crashed with a KAMAZ truck

© Ilya Pitalev/TASS

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MOSCOW, February 4. /TASS/. A minibus reportedly carrying Ukrainian citizens collided with a truck in southwest Russia’s Belgorod region on Wednesday, killing 11 people, the Interior Ministry has said.

The Mercedes Benz minibus with Ukrainian car plates, with 14 passengers, reported to be from Ukraine, had crossed into the oncoming traffic lane and crashed with a KAMAZ truck, the ministry said.

According to preliminary information, the minibus driver could have fallen asleep at the wheel.

A source in the law enforcement agencies said the minibus was on the way from northeastern Ukraine’s Kharkov city to Belgorod, some 620 kilometers south of Moscow.

All the passengers are Ukrainian nationals, the source said.

The victims are the driver and 10 passengers, while another five passengers have been hospitalized with multiple injuries.

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