Four people were killed, including a local governmental official, in a five-car accident on a highway connecting Xi'an and Hanzhong on Saturday, local authorities confirmed on Monday.

Lu Heming, deputy secretary–general of Hanzhong city government, was one of the deceased, the city government confirmed to Xinhua.

Lu was on his way back from an official trip to Xi'an when the accident occurred in Zhujiaya tunnel.

Lu, the driver, and two other passengers in the car died on the scene.

The cause of the accident remains under investigation.