HANOI, Oct, 31, 2023 (BSS/Xinhua) - Five people died and nine others were injured early Tuesday in Vietnam's northern province of Lang Son after a 16-seat passenger coach crashed into a semi-trailer and a container truck, Vietnam News Agency (VNA) reported.

 The accident happened at Rung Cam slope in Huu Lung district at about 2:10 a.m. when the 16-seat vehicle rear-ended a broken semi-trailer parking on the right side of the road.

 The steep road was dark without streetlights then, which led to the crash, local newspaper VnExpress reported, citing the Traffic Police Department.

 The bus then collided with a container truck traveling in the opposite direction on the left lane.

 One driver and 15 passengers were on the coach when the accident occurred. Four died on the spot and another died on the way to the hospital.

 The passenger coach was badly mangled, VNA reported. The case is being further investigated.

 In the first 10 months of 2023, there were 9,829 traffic accidents in Vietnam, killing 5,496 people and injuring 6,973 others, according to the General Statistics Office.