At least nine people have been killed and four others sustained injuries after a van in which the victims were travelling collided with a stationary truck at Thuvarankurichi near Trichy district in southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, police said Thursday.
While nine people, including three children and two women, died on the spot, the injured were hospitalised in Trichy.
The victims were going to the temple town of Tirupati from Kanyakumari when the accident took place, reports Xinhua news agency.
A probe has been ordered into the incident, the official said.
"The driver of the truck has fled the spot after the accident and we will book him for negligence as he had parked his vehicle without switching on the parking lights," he added.
India has the highest number of road fatalities in the world. Road accidents occur mostly due to poor driving or badly maintained roads and vehicles.