A school bus ploughed into a crowd of people, killing at least 11, including five students, in China’s Shandong province according to state media reports.
The incident took place outside the gates of a school in Tai’an city, where students and parents were standing.
Several others were injured, with one person in critical condition. Chinese state media reported that the bus driver “lost control” of the vehicle, leading it to ram into the crowd.
The driver has been taken into custody as police investigate the cause of the accident. It is still unclear if the incident was intentional.
“So far, a total of 11 people have died (including six parents and five students),” Chinese state media confirmed after the bus struck the group of parents and children on the side of the road. Twelve other people who were injured are currently in stable condition.
Images and videos of the incident have surfaced on social media, showing people trapped under the vehicle. The crash happened just days after students returned to school for the new academic year.
Deadly traffic accidents are common in China. In July this year, police reported that a vehicle crashed into a group of pedestrians in the central city of Changsha, killing eight people and injuring several others.
