Death toll rises to 11 after head-on car crash on Brazil highway

SAO PAULO, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from a head-on collision between two vehicles on a highway in Brazil's northeastern state of Bahia rose to 11 on Saturday, including two children aged two and four, the Federal Highway Police said.

A Chevrolet S10 pickup truck and a Fiat Doblo utility vehicle were involved in the collision on federal highway BR-101 near the city of Mucuri in southern Bahia, with both vehicles catching fire after the impact, which police believe was caused by an improper overtaking attempt by one of the drivers.

"Ten people died at the scene, and another died after being taken to a medical center," highway operator Ecovias Capixaba said in a statement.

The identities of the victims have not yet been released, and an investigation is underway. ■