Five killed after truck collides with bus in northern Japan

Police at the scene of a crash between a bus and a truck in Yakumo, Hokkaido prefecture (Kyodo News via AP)

Five people have died and 12 others taken to hospital after a truck collided with a bus in Hokkaido in northern Japan, according to local media reports.

Police said the truck might have strayed into oncoming traffic, Kyodo news agency reported.

The bus was carrying 15 passengers at the time of the accident, which occurred on Sunday.

Several people were killed and 12 others taken to hospital (Kyodo News via AP)

The drivers of both vehicles died in the crash, Kyodo said.

Video from broadcaster NTV showed the mangled wreckage of the two vehicles stuck on the road in the aftermath of the crash.

The bus was travelling from Sapporo to Hakodate, while the truck was carrying pigs from Hakodate to Yakumo, Kyodo said.