SAO PAULO, April 13 (Xinhua) -- At least five people, including two children, were killed and one other person injured in a multi-vehicle crash Sunday night in Brazil's southern state of Santa Catarina, highway police said Monday.

The crash, which happened on state highway SC-355 between the towns of Iomere and Videira in the western part of the state, was triggered when a vehicle collided with another car while passing, causing the car to cross the lane and strike two other vehicles.

Those killed were a young couple, their two children, aged 2 and 6 respectively, and a family friend, according to local authorities. The driver of one of the cars involved was injured and taken to hospital.

Police said rain was falling at the time of the crash. The driver of one of the cars involved, a 31-year-old man, was taken to police station for fleeing the scene before authorities arrived. Investigation of the accident is ongoing. ■