No more than 14 people, including 4 children, were burnt to death when a passenger van caught fire after colliding with a truck on this morning, the Police said.

Another 5 people were severely injured in the accident that took place in Pakistan near the capital, Islamabad, said Mahmud Ali Khokhar, spokesperson for the highway police.

He confirmed that 4 children were among the dead & all the bodies were charred beyond recognition.

Investigation is ongoing to determine the cause of the accident.

Khokhar said it appeared that the van driver fell asleep at the wheel & crashed into the truck.

Bad roads, poorly maintained vehicles & a substandard safety regime cause numerous accidents in Pakistan every year, leading to more than 5,000 deaths, according to government statistics.

In June, a fuel tanker overturned in eastern Pakistan & then burst into flames when locals gathered to collect oil, killing about 200 people.