CHINA – At least 9 people were killed and 7 others injured in a series of expressway collisions in Chinese Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on Saturday night.

The accidents took place on an expressway in the city of Usu in the Tacheng prefecture when several vehicles collided one after another.

A total of five large vehicles and seven smaller cars were involved.

The injured were taken to the hospital for emergency care, according to Xinhua News.

Officials said that the crashes took place amid sudden heavy fog and freezing nighttime temperatures, which quickly caused the road surfaces to become wet and icy.

An investigation into the collisions has been launched.