WUHAN -- Seven children died and 14 were injured after the mini-van they were traveling in veered off a country road after being hit by another vehicle in central China on Monday, local police said.

One child is still in critical condition and has been taken to the Hubei provincial capital, Wuhan, for medical treatment.

The other 13 injured children are being treated at Macheng People's Hospital and Macheng Hospital of Chinese Medicine and are in stable condition.

The seven-seat van was carrying 21 pre-schoolers when it was hit from behind by a three-wheeled vehicle carrying bricks. The van veered off the road in Guishan County in the city of Macheng and fell into a pond at 4:50 p.m., said a spokesman with the public security bureau in Macheng.

One child died at the scene and six others died on their way to hospital, he said without giving their names or ages.

Local authorities closed the privately-owned kindergarten attended by the preschoolers while the investigation was carried out. Local education and safety watchdogs are participating in the investigation.