A van apparently packed with migrants veers off the road in Croatia, injuring 14 people, including seven children

ZAGREB, Croatia – A van apparently packed with migrants veered off the road and crashed into a lamppost in Croatia on Monday as it fled from police at high speed, injuring 14 people, police and doctors said.

The accident occurred at around 3 a.m. in eastern Croatia when police, tasked with preventing illegal entry into Croatia, spotted a van with Swiss license plates carrying too many people and signaled the driver to stop, police said. Instead, however, the driver accelerated, they said.

A few minutes later, police found the van on the side of the road after it had hit a lamppost. Doctors in nearby hospitals reported that 14 people were injured, including seven children, state television broadcaster HRT reported.

Migrants from the Middle East, Africa and Asia often seek the help of people smugglers to cross borders without permission and reach rich Western European countries. Migrants are often forced to travel in overcrowded vans or boats.