NEW DELHI, July 8 (Xinhua) -- At least eight people have been killed in a major road accident in the northern Indian state of Haryana, a senior police official said Saturday.
"The accident occurred when a sports utility vehicle (SUV) in which the victims were travelling collided head-on with a truck coming from the opposite direction near Maarot village in the state's Jhajjar district late Friday night," he said.
While seven people died on the spot, one succumbed to his injuries on the way to a government hospital, the official said, adding that the bodies have been sent for an autopsy.
Eye-witnesses told police that both the vehicles were travelling at high speed and both the drivers lost control of their vehicles leading to the head-on collision.
A probe has been ordered into the incident, the official said, adding that efforts are on to track down the truck driver who immediately fled the spot after the accident, leaving the vehicle behind on the main road.
India has the highest number of road fatalities in the world. Road accidents happen often due to poor driving or badly maintained roads and vehicles.
