Papua New Guinea Deputy Prime Minister Sam Basil. （PHOTO / FROM THE OFFICIAL FACEBOOK OF SAM BASIL）

SYDNEY - Papua New Guinea Deputy Prime Minister Sam Basil was killed in a road accident on Wednesday night, authorities said.

Basil and three other injured persons were immediately retrieved from the accident site and the deputy prime minister was moved to a hospital where he was pronounced dead, police said in a statement on Thursday.

"Police investigations have commenced into the accident. The second vehicle involved in the accident and its driver is known," Police Commissioner David Manning said.

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Manning said he expected the investigation into the accident to be completed "in a timely manner".