MONTECRISTI, Ecuador, July 20, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - At least nine people were killed Sunday in western Ecuador after a pickup truck and an SUV collided head on, authorities said.

Two others were injured in the accident, which occurred around 5:00 am (1000 GMT) on the highway connecting the coastal city of Manta and the nearby town of Montecristi, renowned for its Panama hat production.

"We suspect a lane infringement," Juan Carlos Martillo, an investigator with the Ecuadoran Traffic Commission, told reporters.

According to local media, two children aged six and 11 were among the dead.

Martillo said that, given the number of victims, it is presumed that at least one of the vehicles was carrying an excessive number of passengers.

Traffic accidents are among the leading causes of death in Ecuador.

Official figures show that between January and May 2025 alone, there were 4,756 traffic accidents with 565 fatalities in the South American nation.

There were around 2,300 traffic-related fatalities last year, with over a third attributed to driver inexperience or recklessness.