The truck after toppling over on National Highway 5 on Tuesday morning, killing five people and injuring two more. VNA/VNS Photo

HẢI DƯƠNG — It was a tragic morning on National Highway 5 as three consecutive accidents killed at least seven people and injured another two on Tuesday, Hải Dương Province traffic authorities announced.

According to the Kim Thành District Traffic Safety Committee, at around 4am, a 16-seat van hit a walker who was doing morning exercise on the highway. The crash killed the 81-year-old man instantly.

The accident drew in a crowd of curious passersby and it was not long before things got even worse. A cargo truck, which was travelling from Hà Nội to Hải Phòng, veered to the side of the road in an effort to avoid the divider and ran straight into the crowd at around 6am.

The truck toppled over, crushing seven watchers and four motorbikes beneath it. Local traffic police said five died on the spot while another two were injured.

The police released the names of the casualties in both the accidents. They were Đào Quang Huân – the walker, Đào Quang Thuận, 58, Hoàng Thị Em, 34, Trương Minh Khang, 45, Nguyễn Văn Hiếu, 30 and Nguyễn Quốc Hoàng, 17. The two injured people were Nguyễn Văn Vân, 32 and 35-year-old Lường Quang May.

According to the police, the victims of the second accident were local residents and workers at nearby factories.

Hải Dương Traffic Safety Committee also reported a third accident on Tuesday morning not far from the other two crashes. A driver was killed when a container truck and a cargo van collided.

Transport minister Nguyễn Văn Thể arrived at the scene this morning to inspect the accidents and co-ordinate the rescue efforts. He also visited the families of the victims to offer support. — VNS