1st LD Writethru: 7 killed in road accident in western India

NEW DELHI, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- At least seven people have been killed in a road accident in the western Indian state of Maharashtra Thursday, police said.

"The accident occurred when an autorickshaw, a three-wheeler passenger vehicle, collided with a truck near Shemli village on the Malegaon-Satana Road in the state's Nashik district," a senior police official said.

All the seven people in the autorickshaw, including its driver, died on the spot, he said. "The passengers of the autorickshaw were toy sellers who were on their way to a fair in Satna, some 50 km from the accident spot," the official said.

Eye-witnesses told cops that the truck was travelling at high speed and hit the overloaded autorickshaw after its driver lost control of the heavy vehicle.

"A probe has been ordered into the incident," the official said, adding that a manhunt has also been launched to track down the truck driver who fled the spot after the accident leaving the vehicle behind.

India has a high number of road fatalities. Road accidents occur mostly due to poor driving or badly maintained roads and vehicles. Enditem