NEW DELHI, June 1 (Xinhua) -- At least five people have been killed in a road accident in the northern Indian state of Haryana, police said Friday.

"The accident occurred on national highway number 44 near Samana Bahu village in the state's Karnal district when a car in which the victims were travelling was hit by another vehicle from behind Thursday evening," a police official said.

"The impact of the crash was such that the car jumped the divider and flung on other side of the road where it was hit by a speeding truck coming from the opposite direction. The victims who died on the spot were all members of a family and included three women," he said.

Eye-witnesses told cops the vehicle, which had crashed into the victims' car from behind, was travelling at high speed.

A probe has been ordered into the incident, the official said. "A case of rash and negligent driving has been registered against the vehicle driver as well as the truck driver and a manhunt launched to nab them," he added.

Road accidents occur mostly due to poor driving or badly maintained roads and vehicles.