This three-vehicle crash on a Russian motorway has left five girls from a school basketball team dead.

The accident took place on the Astrakhan-Stavropol motorway in the south-western Russian region of Stavropol Krai at around 4.40pm on 30th April, when the minibus of young basketball players was on their way to a tournament.

A lorry, a Lada car, and the minibus were involved in the accident, claiming the lives of five children from the Volgograd School of Olympic Reserve.

The minibus was driving from Volgograd to Cherkessk for a competition with 14 children and four adults onboard.

The accident happened when the Lada driver swerved into the opposite lane in front of an oncoming lorry.

The lorry driver tried to avoid the collision and ended up hitting the minibus and overturning.

Five children died and another 12 people, including eight children, were injured. Seven needed hospital treatment for their injuries.

According to the regional health authority, one girl is still receiving treatment at the Regional Children’s Clinical Hospital Stavropol while two others are being cared for in the Grachevsky District Hospital.

The Leninsky District Court of Stavropol arrested the Lada driver and is keeping the person who was not identified in custody until 30th June for allegedly causing the accident.

The funerals for the five victims were held in Volgograd on 3rd May, which was also declared a day of mourning in the region by the authorities.

The investigation continues.