WUHAN, Oct. 29 -- Two people died and 15 others were injured after being hit by a car on Wednesday in Shiyan City, central China's Hubei Province.

Local police said the accident happened in Fangxian County around 7 a.m. when a car plowed into a crowd on Shennong Road. Two pedestrians who were seriously injured died despite treatment, and the other 15 injured are being treated in local hospitals.

The driver, surnamed Deng, is under police control. A preliminary investigation showed that Deng drove off after a dispute with others earlier in the morning, and he hit the pedestrians while fleeing.

Further investigation is under way.