JI'NAN - Five people have died and four others were injured in a road accident in East China's Shandong province on Thursday, local authorities said.

The accident happened around 4 a.m. on a highway in Chengwu County, sources with the county government said.

Two people died on the spot and seven others were injured after a three-wheel motorcycle they were in overturned after colliding with a farm truck.

Three of the injured died later after rescue efforts failed, while the remaining four are not in life-threatening condition.

The three-wheel motorcycle driver, Jia Aixian, who was unscathed in the accident, has been taken into police custody for inquiries.

Police are hunting the truck driver, who fled the scene after the accident.