3 dead after truck-car head-on collision near Tokyo

TOKYO, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- Three people were killed after a truck and a passenger car collided in Chiba Prefecture, near Tokyo, early Tuesday morning, with the passenger car catching fire, local media reported.

Just after 4 a.m. local time, a passerby called emergency services to report that a truck and a passenger car appeared to be on fire at an intersection in Chiba City, public broadcaster NHK reported.

When firefighters arrived, they found that a truck and a passenger car had collided and the passenger car was on fire.

Officials said the fire was extinguished about an hour later, but three people inside the passenger car were confirmed dead.

The 57-year-old truck driver sustained minor injuries, while the 19-year-old man driving the passenger car was also injured and taken to a hospital. He was conscious, the report said, citing police.

Authorities are investigating the circumstances and cause of the accident.