ABIDJAN, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- At least 17 people were killed and five others injured in a road accident on Sunday in southwestern Cote d'Ivoire, according to a communique from the Ministry of Transport.
According to the ministry, the crash, which occurred at around 4:00 p.m. local time (1600 GMT) on the San Pedro-Sassandra highway, about 20 km from San Pedro, involved a Mercedes passenger coach and a DAF truck.
The injured were taken to the San Pedro Regional Public Hospital for treatment.
Transport Minister Amadou Kone instructed relevant agencies, including the accident investigation bureau, to dispatch a team to the scene to collect technical data and information to help clarify the circumstances of the accident. ■