Wreckage from a multiple-vehicle crash litters the Shanghai-Kunming expressway in Shangrao, Central China's Jiangxi province, Aug 6, 2011. Four vehicles were involved in the accident, which killed 17 people. [Photo/Xinhua]

NANCHANG - Seventeen people died and four others were injured in a multiple-vehicle crash in Jiangxi province Saturday morning, police said.

A semi-trailer truck rear-ended another and tumbled over and skidded into the opposite lane on the Shanghai-Kunming expressway at around 4:30 am. The truck was then smashed into by a lorry, which rolled after impact and slammed into a passenger mini-bus, according to traffic police with Jiangxi Public Security Department.

Twelve people, including nine in the mini-bus, died at the scene. Five others died in hospital after treatment failed, police said.

Nine of the 17 deceased have been identified. Four children in the mini-bus and the bus driver have been confirmed dead, according to the traffic police.

Two people were hospitalized and are in a stable condition. Two others suffered minor injuries.

The truck that rear-ended another one was suspected of being overloaded. And its driver was allegedly fatigued, said Yang Jianyun, a traffic policeman with Jiangxi Public Security Department.

The mini-bus was overloaded with 13 people on board, including four children. It was also suspected of speeding, according to Yang.

Police are further investigating the crash.

A man cleans up the wreckage from a multiple-vehicle crash that killed 17 people on the Shanghai-Kunming expressway in Shangrao, Central China's Jiangxi province, Aug 6, 2011. [Photo/Xinhua]