AP reported that a bus crashed into a group of students and parents at a school in Tai’an city, Shandong province, China on the morning of September 3. Police said 11 people were killed and 13 injured.
Police said in a social media post that six parents and five students were killed. One of the injured was in critical condition. The others were stable. The driver was arrested and the incident is under investigation.
In images shared on social media, adults were seen kneeling next to children at the scene. Many victims were trapped under the car.
CCTV reported that the driver lost control of the vehicle as it approached a school in Tai'an City, Shandong Province at 7:27 a.m. on September 3.
The bus was said to be used exclusively to transport students. Police reports provided by the department did not provide clear information about who was responsible for operating the bus. Many schools contract with private companies or individuals.
Previously, in 2017, a bus crash killed 11 kindergarten students and the driver, including 5 Koreans and 6 Chinese. The bus caught fire in a tunnel in Weihai City, Shandong Province, China. It is still unclear whether the cause of the accident was due to careless driving or intentional.
School safety, including overcrowded school buses and poorly designed buildings, has long been a problem in China, and China has reduced the risk of traffic accidents by increasing training and vehicle inspections.
