ZHENGZHOU, Sept. 11 -- Twelve people were confirmed dead in an expressway accident in central China's Henan Province early Friday, the local government said.

The accident happened shortly after midnight on an interprovincial expressway in Xinxian County, the county government said in a press release.

It said a bus had toppled on the slippery road and a truck crashed into the bus.

Nine people were confirmed dead at the scene and three others died later in hospital, the document said.

Nineteen people were still in hospital. All were in stable condition.

Police have detained the drivers for investigation.