13 killed as minibus crashes into stationary truck in India's Karnataka

At least 13 people including a child were killed and four others injured after a minibus crashed into a stationary truck from behind in the southwestern Indian state of Karnataka on Friday, police said.

The accident took place near Gundenahalli cross in Byadgi taluk of Haveri district, about 326 km northwest of Bengaluru, the capital city of Karnataka.

"Today early morning a minibus carrying 17 people hit a stationary sugar-laden truck from behind on Pune-Bangaluru highway in Byadgi. Following the crash 11 people were killed on the spot and two others succumbed to their injuries in hospital, taking the death toll to 13. Four others injured in the accident were hospitalized, where their condition was stated to be critical," a police official said.

The victims were returning home after offering prayers at a Hindu temple in a neighboring district.

Police have registered a case and ordered an investigation to ascertain the cause of the crash.

Reports said police suspect the driver behind the wheel had dozed off resulting in the accident.

Deadly road accidents are common in India, often caused due to overloading, bad condition of roads and reckless driving.

Around 150,000 people are killed every year in about half a million road accidents across India, officials said.