URUMQI -- Ten people died and 32 others were injured after a large truck hit a small lorry carrying 41 workers in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, local authorities said.

The accident happened at 6:35 am on Sunday when the large truck was passing the lorry on a highway in Wujiaqu city, said the city authorities.

The truck hit the lorry and both vehicles overturned and plunged 1.5 meters into a ditch.

All the injured, including six in serious condition, were rushed to local hospitals.

Police and work safety authorities are still investigating the accident.