Rio de Janeiro - At least eight people died and seven others were injured Wednesday in southern Brazil when the hospital shuttle bus they were travelling in crashed near the town of Venancio Aires, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul.

According to preliminary police reports, the accident happened early Wednesday. The bus belonged to the town of Sobradinho, and was taking sick people to a hospital in state capital Porto Alegre.

For as yet unknown reasons the bus crashed with a lorry, crossed to the lane into oncoming traffic and finally crashed with a second truck. (dpa)