Ten people lost their lives, and several others were injured in a collision between a bus and a truck in South Africa’s Free State province early Wednesday morning.

According to a statement from Free State Police, the accident occurred around 4:20 a.m. local time on the N6 highway between Reddersburg and Smithfield. The bus, carrying 35 passengers, collided with the truck in what authorities described as a sideswipe head-on impact.

"Ten people—a two-year-old girl, six women, and three men—died at the scene. The drivers of both the truck and the bus survived the crash," the statement said. "Five passengers with serious injuries were transported to hospitals in Bloemfontein, while 22 others received treatment at a hospital in Smithfield."

Preliminary investigations suggest the bus was traveling from Reddersburg toward Smithfield, while the truck was heading in the opposite direction.

Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the crash, and a case of culpable homicide has been opened.

Police have urged motorists to exercise caution in the area as emergency responders continue to work at the scene.