A mayor in central China's Hubei Province was asked to leave her post following an inquiry nearly a month after she killed a boy when driving on a highway, local authorities said on Saturday.

While driving a Toyota Prado from Yichang to Dangyang on March 17, Dangyang City Mayor Fan Xiaolan hit and killed an 11-year-old student of Chuanxin Primary School, said Wang Genhua, spokesman of the Communist Party of China discipline inspection committee of Yichang city.

The accident occurred at 7:20 AM and Fan immediately reported it to police who arrived at 7:25 AM, according to Wang.

"Fan cooperated with the police and sincerely apologized to the family of the victim," Wang said, without giving further details.

Local media reported Fan paid 200,000 yuan (US$28,571) in compensation to the family.

According to regulations, officials shall not drive government vehicles without permission. Fan was unauthorized to be driving the vehicle.

Further investigation into the case is underway.

(Xinhua News Agency April 14, 2008)