China's state news agency says 35 passengers on a bus died Sunday after the vehicle smashed into a highway guardrail and burst into flames.
The official Xinhua news agency said 20 people were injured in the incident in Hunan province in central China.
Police have detained the bus driver.
The agency said local officials believe an oil leak, caused by the crash, likely ignited the fire.
Traffic accidents are common in China. Exhausted drivers, poorly maintained vehicles and road obstructions are generally blamed for the frequent mishaps.
Some material for this report came from AP, AFP and Reuters.
