ASUNCION, Aug. 16 (Xinhua) -- At least four people were killed and nine others injured in a multi-vehicle crash late Saturday in the town of Ypacarai in Paraguay's Central department, the National Police said Sunday.

The crash occurred when a heavy truck carrying bricks suffered brake failure on a slope and rammed into at least four vehicles waiting at an intersection on National Route PY02.

The truck continued moving after the collisions and crashed into a nearby house, causing a fire which spread to adjacent homes.

According to police, the four victims were traveling in a car that was hit by the truck at the intersection. Firefighters later recovered the bodies, whose identities remain unknown.

The accident also left nine people injured, including four minors.

The truck driver, a 48-year-old man, escaped from the cab before it caught fire and suffered only minor injuries. A breathalyzer test came back negative.

Authorities said the driver noticed the mechanical failure only after passing a runaway truck ramp about two kilometers before the crash site, leaving him unable to stop the vehicle or take evasive action.