Three people were killed in a road accident taking place in Wujiang Township of Hexian County, east China's Anhui Province, on Thursday night, local sources said.

The tragedy occurred when a truck bearing a plate issued in Henan Province of central China collided with a tractor on the provincial highway 206 near Dicun Village of Wujiang Township around 8 AM.

The tractor was overturned, and its driver was thrown out into a ditch a dozen meters away. After that, the truck drove off the highway, knocking down an old couple who were crossing the highway at the time, killing the old man on the spot.

Both the tractor driver, and the old lady died in the local hospital.

The truck driver was detained by the local police. And a hunt for the truck owner is going on.

Cause of the accident is under further investigation.

(Xinhua News Agency October 21, 2005)