Six individuals were killed when a van carrying six people and a truck collided on a highway in southwestern China, authorities said Sunday.

The crash occurred Sunday morning on a section of National Highway 247 between Jiuzhaigou county in Sichuan province and Wenxian county in Gansu province.

Three people died at the scene, while the others succumbed to their injuries after being taken to a hospital, officials said.

An investigation into the cause of the crash was underway, and authorities were handling post-crash arrangements, according to Xinhua News Agency.