Six people killed, including two children, when car crashes head first into van on Texas highway

At least six people, including two children, were killed in a devastating head-on crash in Texas on Saturday afternoon.

Authorities said the victims died when two vehicles collided and burst into flames between Bynum and Malone in Hill County.

The deadly wreck occurred shortly after 4.30pm on State Highway 171 near FM 3155, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.

The department said a northbound passenger car attempted to pass another vehicle before slamming head-on into an approaching van.

The impact sparked an intense blaze, leaving both vehicles fully engulfed in flames.

Two adults and two children were pronounced dead at the scene, while another child was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.

Two other people in the passenger car were also killed, bringing the death toll to six, DPS said.

Authorities have not released the victims' identities as they work to notify next of kin. The investigation is ongoing and no further details have been released.

In a statement to the Daily Mail, Hill County Lieutenant Chris Jackson said: 'Hill County Sheriff's Office Communications center received a call of a major accident shortly after 4.30pm on June 20.

'The Hill County Sheriff's Office responded, along with the Texas Department of Public Safety - Highway Patrol, Bynum Fire Department, and Careflite EMS. 

'Shortly after that, additional personnel responded from the Penelope Fire Department, Hillsboro Fire/Rescue, Texas Department of Transportation, and Hill County Emergency Management,' he added.

Daily Mail reached out to the Texas Department of Public Safety for additional comment.

This tragedy follows another fiery incident in the Lone Star State when one person was killed after a small passenger plane caught fire and crash landed along a major Texas highway on Tuesday

Six passengers were onboard a Cessna Citation Latitude twin jet when it came hurtling down on Texas State Highway Loop 20 at around 10pm, according to Jose Baeza, an investigator with the Laredo Police Department.

One person was killed in the collision, and five officers were rushed to the hospital for smoke inhalation in the aftermath.

Authorities are now looking into what may have caused the small plane to crash, hours after it departed from Los Cabos International Airport in Mexico at 6.19pm. It was on its way to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport when it crashed.

Witnesses had reported seeing the business jet, which carries a maximum of nine passengers, falling from the sky over Highway 59 already on fire, KIITV reports.  

Shocking video shared online then showed the small aircraft laying on its side with flames bursting out its underbelly, sending smoke billowing through the air, as rescuers used whatever tools they had handy to try to break open the windshield.

Others were seen prying open the door, at which point at least two men were seen stepping out of the wreckage.