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BAKU, March 9 (Xinhua) -- Five people have died and about 20 passengers were injured in a road accident involving a minibus and a truck on Azerbaijan's Baku-Sumgayit highway Thursday morning, said the country's Health Ministry.
According to preliminary investigation, the driver of the Ford Transit minibus crashed into a truck loaded with bricks, local police said.
The police said the driver has also violated passenger rules. He picked up more passengers despite the bus having a capacity for 18 riders, said a police officer.
The bus was transporting students from Sumgayit State University.
Seventeen injured passengers were taken to hospital in Sumgayit, Azerbaijan's second-largest city located 35 km northwest of Baku.
Four other people who suffered serious injuries were taken to a medical center, according to Azerbaijan's Health Ministry.
Police said the driver has been detained. The Ministry of Internal Affairs has opened a criminal case. Enditem
