A three-kilometer-long diesel oil stretch on Beijing's second ring road caused four accidents involving eight cars early Sunday.

The accidents caused no death, but the municipal public security bureau's communications administration said there were people injured in the collisions without providing the exact number.

The police source said the diesel oil stretch was found at 6:06 AM on the west part of the capital's second ring road between Guanyuan Bridge and Tianningsi Bridge.

Fifty-four policemen were then quickly mobilized to the accident site to perform a temporary traffic control.

Meanwhile, workers from Beijing's public sanitation department covered the oil-splashed road section with sand.

The traffic resumed at 8:35 AM but people still found it difficult to drive on the slippery road surface.

The police source said the vehicle which splashed the oil escaped away and they are now in pursuit of it.

A similar accident took place one year ago when a great amount of diesel oil was splashed on a 3.9-km-long section of Beijing's second ring road, causing three-hour traffic congestion.

(Xinhua News Agency December 18, 2006)