A man is believed to be dead after a fatal crash involving a dump truck and Toyota Hiace van in Malie on Friday afternoon.

The accident is believed to have happened around 5 pm. According to witnesses, the truck was carrying gravel. It is unclear at this point how the accident happened, however, a visit to the scene suggested that there was a head-on collision with the van eventually ending up stuck under the side of the truck.

It is believed that the driver of the van died on impact and passengers in the van were injured. The van is believed to belong to the Methodist Church.

Residents in Malie said they heard a loud crashing noise and when they rushed outside, they saw the truck and van.

Samoa Fire and Emergency Authority Services commissioner Tanuvasa Petone Mauga confirmed that a team was at the scene of the crash with an ambulance transporting injured passengers and others using the ‘jaws of life’ equipment to free the passenger.

SFESA has urged drivers to be careful on the road and stay within the speed limits.

Images and videos posted from the crash site show the van stuck on the side of the truck with the most impact on the driver’s side.

The SFESA crew worked for more than an hour to get the driver’s body free from the wreck.

The work to free the driver from the crash caused traffic congestion stretching as far as Vaitele and Afega.

Police are yet to comment on the matter.