21 injured in 14-vehicle pileup in northern Iran

Alsharq Tribune-AFP 

At least 21 people were injured in a 14-vehicle pileup in Iran's northern Golestan province on Thursday, the semi-official Mehr news agency reported.

The crash occurred in the afternoon on an intercity road. Three rescue teams and three ambulances were dispatched to the scene, Morteza Salimi, head of the provincial Red Crescent Society, told Mehr.

The collision involved two trucks, 11 sedans and a bus, Salimi said, adding that the injured were taken to nearby medical centers.

Rouhollah Jafari, deputy head of the province's emergency medical services, said the crash was triggered by a brake failure on one of the trucks. Among the wounded was a pregnant woman, and four people were reported in critical condition.