Eight people were killed when the mini-bus they were aboard collided with a cargo truck early Sunday in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, local authorities confirmed.

The mini-bus bumped into the truck at about 7:00 AM on a highway in the Qahar Right Wing Rear Banner of Ulanqab City. All the eight people aboard the mini-bus were killed on the spot, local traffic police said.

The eight victims, including three women and five men from a local village, were en route to a church when the accident happened, police said.

Investigation into the cause of the accident is under way.

(Xinhua News Agency August 12, 2007)