At least 21 people were killed and three others seriously injured in a three-vehicle collision on the N1 highway in South Africa’s Western Cape province, local authorities and media reported.

The crash occurred late Sunday night near Prince Albert Road in the Central Karoo, according to the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC).

Two minibus taxis and a station wagon were involved in the collision, which took place shortly before midnight.

Emergency services were dispatched to the scene, where multiple fatalities were reported. Three people who survived the crash sustained serious injuries and were taken for medical treatment.

Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the collision. Further details, including the identities of those killed and the circumstances that led to the crash, were not immediately available.

Road accidents involving minibus taxis are a major concern in South Africa, where overcrowding, speeding, driver fatigue and poor road conditions are among the factors frequently cited in deadly crashes.

The N1 is one of South Africa’s major national highways, linking Cape Town with the interior of the country and carrying significant passenger and freight traffic. (ILKHA)