(CNN) -- A tour bus accident in southwest Tibet left at least 44 people dead, China's state-run news agency Xinhua reported via Twitter Saturday. Xinhua cited a spokesman with the regional government. The bus was involved in a three-vehicle pileup along the National Highway in Nyemo County in Tibet, according to Xinhua. It crashed against a sports utility vehicle and a pickup truck, and then plunged into the valley. Photos showed the wrecked bus resting upside down by a riverbank. Photos also showed emergency personnel and rescue workers carrying passengers from the scene in stretchers. Dozens of pieces of luggage were piled to the side of the retaining wall.
Bus was involved in three-vehicle pileup, Chinese authorities say . Crash site was along the National Highway in Tibet .