Eight people were injured in a traffic accident involving a minibus in Mannarino Street in Birkirkara last night, the police said.

The police said the accident happened at 12.45am when the Ford Trabsit minibus was involved in a collision with Volkswagen Polo, with the minibus careening into a wall.

The minibus was being driven by a 56-year-old man from San Gwann. He was slightly injured.

Seven passengers were also injured, four of them grievously, while the other three suffered slight injuries.

The driver of the Volkswagen escaped from the site of the accident and has not been identified.

Magistrate Joe Mifsud is conducting an inquiry.