Head-on car collision kills 5, injures 9 in southeast Brazil

RIO DE JANEIRO, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- Five people, including two minors, were killed and nine others injured in a head-on car collision on Sunday in Brazil's southeastern state of Minas Gerais, said local authorities.

The crash occurred early Sunday morning on the BR-040 federal highway near the municipality of Paracatu in northwestern Minas Gerais.

According to the federal highway police, a car traveling toward the capital, Brasilia, crossed into the opposite lane and collided head-on with another vehicle.

Those injured were transported to nearby hospitals for treatment.

The BR-040 is one of Brazil's main federal highways linking the central and southeastern regions and sees heavy traffic, especially during holidays. ■