CHANGSHA - Eight people, including two children, died after a van hit a truck on an expressway in central China's Hunan Province Friday, local authorities said.

The accident happened at around 3 p.m. in Shaoyang City, on an interprovincial expressway linking Shanghai with Kunming in the southwestern Yunnan province.

The van, carrying 9 people including three children, was about to pull over in the emergency lane when it crashed into a heavy truck that had parked there for repairs.

The van was seriously damaged and the only person on board to survive was a child.

Investigation was going on and police were yet to identify the victims.

Friday is May Day and start of a three-day public holiday for spring cleaning and outings. Nationwide roads have witnessed a surge of traffic flows and accidents, too.