NEW DELHI, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- At least eight people have been killed and two others injured in a major road accident in the western Indian state of Rajasthan, police said Wednesday.

"The accident occurred when a tempo in which the victims were travelling collided head-on with a speeding truck in state capital Jaipur in the wee hours," a senior police official said.

While six people died on the spot, including the driver of the tempo, two others succumbed to their injuries in a hospital where two others are undergoing treatment, he said.

"The dead included three women and two children, members of the same family. The victims were all returning from a late night marriage function," the official said.

Eye-witnesses told cops that the truck was travelling at high speed and its driver lost control of the vehicle, leading to the accident.

"A probe has been ordered into the incident," he said, adding that a manhunt has also been launched to track down the truck driver who fled the spot leaving the vehicle behind.

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.