KIEV, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- Seventeen coal mine workers were injured in a road accident in eastern Ukraine early Tuesday, authorities said.

The head of Ukrainian Independent Union of Miners Mykhailo Volynets said on Facebook that the bus carrying the miners collided with a military vehicle in the town of Dobropillya in Donetsk region.

It remained unclear whether the drivers were responsible for the collision.

The police said that it has opened a criminal case into the accident on charges of violation of road safety rules.

In January through November 2017, at least 3,058 people were killed and 31,514 others were injured in more than 146,000 traffic accidents on Ukraine's roads.

Starting from Jan. 1, Ukraine has tightened road safety regulations with harsher punishments for violations.