The truck is seen after plunging off a mountain cliff in Đak Đoa District of the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai on Wednesday morning, killing six and injuring three. —VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — A cassava truck carrying nine people plunged off a mountain cliff in Đak Đoa District of the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai on Wednesday morning, killing six and injuring three.

The accident happened at around 1.45am on Wednesday in Bokrei Village, Đak Sơmei Commune.

The truck numbered 81C-111 25 had one driver and eight passengers in the cabin and was coming from Hà Đông Commune on National Highway 19D when it suddenly fell off the cliff.

Informed of the incident, the traffic police division under the Ministry of Public Security sent a task force to the scene to coordinate with police in Gia Lai Province to investigate.

Phan Hữu Hiếu, chief secretariat of Traffic Safety Committee of Gia Lai Province, said the rescue forces had removed the bodies from the scene and the victims were rushed to hospital for emergency treatment.

The truck driver, Huỳnh Đức Nguyên, 38, died on the spot. Five passengers, Trần Văn Tâm, 35, Dương Văn Dũng, 37, Hùng, 22, Bùi Văn Tiện, 48, and Phan Văn Tuấn, 32, also died.

Three other passengers, Guêm, 23, Gun, 31, and Nguyễn Tấn Vinh, suffered multiple injuries.

Initial information showed that the accident site was a very long slope. Traces at the scene showed that the truck fell off the cliff on its right-hand side.

“Four bodies have been identified by relatives. Among the three injured, two are being treated at the hospital and one has returned home,” he said.

Deputy Prime Minister Phạm Bình Minh, chairman of the National Traffic Safety Committee, assigned the vice president of the National Traffic Safety Administration to inspect the scene.

Police officers are investigating the cause of the accident. — VNS