SIDON, Lebanon: A Lebanese Army soldier and a jogger were killed in a road accident on the Sidon-south Lebanon highway after a motorist crashed his car into a parked coffee van early Friday.

Security sources said the 6 a.m. accident also left five people wounded.

Eyewitnesses said a speeding Mercedes-Benz crashed into the rear of the coffee van parked at the roadside under Ghazieh Bridge leading to south Lebanon.

The van owner, identified as Rami Gharib, was severely wounded in the accident, according to the security sources. The Mercedes had to be cut open to resuce owner Mustafa al-Shaar.

Another four cars crashed into each other following the accident. Other motorists lost control and hit and killed a jogger and a Lebanese Army soldier who was standing next to a military jeep.

The jogger was identified as Mahmoud Kawtharani, in his sixties. The state-run National News Agency identified the soldier as Hasan Abdel-Qader.

A pickup truck also toppled onto its side in the middle of the highway, injuring driver Mustafa Habli.

Lebanese Red Cross and Civil Defense teams were dispatched to the scene and the injured were rushed to nearby hospitals.