Tokyo, Sep 14 (Xinhua) Some 20 cars and trucks piled up on an expressway in central Japan, killing three people and injuring 10 others.

The multi-collision occurred at around 1 a.m. (1600 GMT, Wednesday) on the Chuo expressway in Nagano Prefecture, Kyodo News reported Thursday.

A large truck blocked the road in a single vehicle accident, and about 20 following vehicles collided with the truck or each other, the police said.

The surface of the road was slippery due to rain at the time of the accident. A section of the expressway between Iida and Sonohara was closed off after the accident.