TOKYO, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- A van carrying kindergartners on Monday crashed into a residential property in Chiba Prefecture near Tokyo, killing the driver and lightly injuring nine children, local media reported.

The vehicle crossed into the opposite lane and crashed into a wall around a house at around 8:50 a.m. local time in a residential area in the city of Kamagaya, Chiba Prefecture, Kyodo News reported, citing local police and firefighters.

Nine children sustained minor injuries like nosebleeds and cuts in their mouths in the accident, while a teacher in her 50s with them was not injured, the report said.

The male driver, who appeared to be in his 40s, was rushed to hospital unconscious and pronounced dead later, it added. ■