A MAYOR in Central China?ˉs Hubei Province was asked to leave her post nearly a month after she killed a boy when driving on a highway, local authorities said Saturday.

While driving a Toyota Prado from Yichang to Dangyang on March 17, Dangyang City Mayor Fan Xiaolan hit and killed an 11-year-old student of Chuanxin Primary School, said Wang Genhua, spokesman of the Communist Party of China discipline inspection committee of Yichang city.

The accident occurred at 7:20 a.m. and Fan immediately reported it to police who arrived at 7:25 a.m., according to Wang.

?°Fan cooperated with the police and sincerely apologized to the family of the victim,?± Wang said, without giving further details.

Local media reported Fan paid 200,000 yuan (US$28,571) in compensation to the family.

According to regulations, officials cannot drive government vehicles without permission. Fan was not authorized to drive the vehicle.(Xinhua)