Latest: Minister blames lorry driver for South Africa train crash as death toll rises

At least 12 people have died and more than 260 have been hurt in a passenger train crash, South Africa's transport minister has said.

Update 2pm: At least 12 people have died and more than 260 were injured in a collision between a lorry and a passenger train, South Africa's transport minister has said.

Joe Maswanganyi told journalists on Thursday that the lorry driver was "taking chances" when he tried to cross the railway tracks ahead of the oncoming train in Free State province.