A school bus plowed into a crowd in China’s Shandong province, killing at least 11 people, including five students, state media reported.
Several other people were injured, one in critical condition.
The bus appeared to hit students and parents as they stood outside a school in the city of Tai’an.
The driver “lost control of the vehicle” and was detained while police investigated the cause of the accident, state media reported. It is unclear whether the incident was intentional.
After the bus hit a group of parents and children on the side of the road, Chinese state media confirmed that “a total of 11 people have died so far (including 6 parents and 5 students)”.
Twelve others are in stable condition.
Images and footage of the incident are being shared on social media, showing people appearing to be trapped under cars.
Just days after students returned to school for the start of the new school year.
Fatal traffic accidents occur frequently in China. In July this year, police said a car crashed into a group of pedestrians in downtown Changsha, killing eight people and injuring several others.
