MOSCOW, September 12 (RIA Novosti) - Five people were killed and four others injured when a van collided with a truck parked on the roadside in south Russia early Thursday, local emergencies services reported.
The traffic accident occurred in the Krasnodar Territory on the M29 highway. All those killed had been riding in the Mercedes van bound from the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi to the capital of Armenia, Yerevan.
It was not immediately clear why the accident occurred. An investigation is underway.
About 30,000 people die in traffic accidents in Russia annually. The accidents are attributed to a poor condition of roads and traffic violations, including drunk driving, running red lights and crossing into the oncoming lane.
Russian authorities have recently adopted laws to considerably toughen punishment for the most serious traffic violations.
