TOKYO, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- A seven-vehicle collision involving a high-speed bus in central Japanese prefecture of Gifu on Tuesday left 12 people injured, local media reported.
The accident took place during snowfall at around 8:30 a.m. local time on the downbound lane near the entrance of the Hida tunnel on the Tokai-Hokuriku Expressway in the city of Hida, which was a straight, single-lane section of the road, national news agency Kyodo reported.
The chain of events began with a passenger car colliding with a large truck in the front, leading to a subsequent pile-up involving the following vehicles. The high-speed bus, carrying a total of 45 passengers and crew, remained unharmed.
Among the 12 injured that have been transported to a hospital, one is in critical condition, and another has sustained severe injuries, according to the prefectural police highway patrol.
The critically injured individual is identified as a 53-year-old female, who was found unconscious at the scene, while 10 other injured complained of various injuries and discomfort.
In response to the accident, related sections of the Tokai-Hokuriku Expressway was temporarily closed in both directions.
The details of the crash remain under investigation. ■
