NEW DELHI, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- A senior leader of India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was killed in a road accident in the western state of Maharashtra, police said Tuesday.

The accident occurred near Saravali village in the state's Bhiwandi district.

"Gurunath Waman Lasne, vice-president of BJP's Thane district unit, was killed after his car was hit by a speeding private bus late Monday evening," a police official said.

The impact of the crash was such that the 55-year-old BJP leader died on the spot, he added.

"A probe has been ordered into the incident and a manhunt launched to track down the bus driver who fled the spot leaving the vehicle behind," the official said.

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.