JINAN, June 25 -- At least five were killed and another nine were injured in a coach crash early Thursday morning in east China's Xintai City, Shandong Province, local authorities said.

A coach carrying 26 people hit the pier of an overpass at 2:01 a.m. on the S31 highway in moderate rain. The coach was travelling from Shanghai to Beijing.

The injured have been taken to hospital. Two suffered heavy injuries.

Police have detained the driver. The cause is under investigation.