Four villagers were killed by a freight train while walking along a rail track in central China's Hubei Province on Saturday, said local police.

The accident occurred around 7:00 a.m. on Saturday near Taoziling Railway Station in Yidu City. The four victims were all residents in Guanping Village, not far from the station, according to the police.

Heavy fog was blamed for the deadly accident. "The visibility was reduced to about 10 meters," said a witness.

The cause for the accident is under investigation.

The city railway authorities warned the locals to abide by traffic rules and not to walk on rail tracks.
 
(Xinhua News Agency December 30, 2007)