DUSHANBE, December 24, Asia-Plus  -- At least nine persons were killed and three others were injured Monday afternoon as fixed-route taxi (minivan) # 16 collided with a diesel locomotive in  Dushanbe, Asia-Plus has learned at the Ministry of Interior (MoI)

The source at a MoI said the accident took place at the gate crossing in Dushanbe’s Sino district,  Nurullo Huvaidulloyev Street, at around 2:00 p.m. “As a result of the collision nine persons were killed and three others received various injuries and were taken to one of Dushanbe hospitals,” the source said, noting that the cause of the accident is under investigation.

The source added that the minivan driver had probably broken traffic regulations and tried to cross the railroad bed.  The source refrained from giving further details of the accident.