SAO PAULO, Aug. 12 -- At least seven people were killed and three others injured when a van and a truck collided Thursday night on a highway in the southern Brazilian state of Parana, the Federal Highway Police confirmed Friday.

According to the report, the accident occurred on highway BR-376 near the town of Palmeira, when a van transporting nine teachers and a truck carrying milk crashed.

The teachers were on their way to Parana's capital Curitiba for a union meeting.

According to initial information, the truck driver was not injured and tested negative for alcohol.

The people who were injured, among them two seriously, were taken to hospitals in the neighboring city of Ponta Grossa, while the causes of the accident were under investigation.

  - Xinhua