Tai’an, Shandong – A school bus ploughed into a crowd of people outside a school in Tai’an city, Shandong province, killing at least 11 individuals, including five students, state media reported on Monday. The tragic incident also left several others injured, with one person currently in critical condition.
The bus, which appears to have lost control, rammed into students and parents who were standing outside the school gates. The driver, who reportedly “lost control” of the vehicle, has been taken into custody as police investigate the cause of the crash. Authorities have not yet confirmed whether the incident was intentional.
According to Chinese state media, the fatalities include six parents and five students. An additional 12 people are receiving medical treatment and are reported to be in stable condition.
Images and videos circulating on social media show the chaotic aftermath, with people seemingly trapped beneath the vehicle. This tragic event occurred just days after students across China returned to school for the start of the new academic year.
Deadly traffic accidents are not uncommon in China. In a similar incident in July, a vehicle crashed into a group of pedestrians in the city of Changsha, killing eight people and injuring several others.
The investigation into the cause of this latest tragedy is ongoing.