A road made slick by a thick layer of dead insects led to a traffic accident on Wednesday in Wuhan, Hubei province, Wuhan Evening News reported.

A truck plunged into a river after its brakes failed on a road near the Donghu Lake.

Police blamed midges for the slippery surface. Sanitation workers cleaning the road agreed, saying it is always covered by midges this time of year.

Midges are a non-biting Chironomidae mosquito that breed during the early winter.

The huge changes in temperature between day and night kills many midges, causing their bodies to pile on roadways.