QINGDAO -- Seven people have died and another was injured after a driver fell asleep at the wheel in East China's Qingdao on Sunday, according to local traffic police.

The 54-year-old driver, surnamed Yang, drove onto the pavement around noon, hitting eight pedestrians, five of whom died at the scene. Another two died later in hospital.

All of the victims were workers at a nearby construction site.

The police investigation concluded that Yang had only slept six hours the night before and was driving tired when the accident occurred.