JINAN, Nov. 19 -- A collision between a truck and a minibus has killed 11 kindergarten children and a driver in east China's Shandong Province, local authorities said on Wednesday.

The accident happened around 8 a.m. when the truck collided with the minibus carrying 14 children in Chaoshui Township in Penglai City, according to Penglai police.

Three children and the minibus driver were killed instantly while eight children died in the hospital. Three other children sustained minor injuries.

Police said the minibus, hired by a local kindergarten to operate as a school bus, was designed for eight passengers but was overloaded at the time of the accident.

The head of the kindergarten, the owner of the minibus and the truck driver are under police custody.

The cause of the accident is still under investigation.