18 killed as truck overturns in Mexico

Mexico City: At least 18 people have been killed after a truck overturned in the Mexican state of Puebla, the police said.

The accident occurred along a mountain road in the municipality of Tepango de Rodriguez, according to an official report released by Puebla`s public security authorities on Monday, Xinhua news agency reported.

Nine men and nine women were killed, most of whom were travelling in the cargo section of the truck.

A preliminary police report found that the vehicle seemed to have a brake failure, which caused it to crash and roll over, adding that the death toll could rise to 19 as one victim was in critical condition in hospital.

Prosecutors have opened an inquiry into the cause of the accident.