Tragic school bus accident in Taian claims 11 lives, injures 13

At least 11 people are dead following an accident that occurred on Tuesday in Taian, China. A school bus drove into a crowd of students and parents standing in front of a school, resulting in multiple injuries.

According to reports from state media cited by the BBC, the collision claimed the lives of at least 11 people, including five students and six parents.

The vehicle struck the crowd of students and parents at the school gate, injuring 13 people. Among the injured, one person is in critical condition, while the remaining twelve are in stable condition.

According to police, the accident occurred before 7:30 AM local time. CBS News notes that Tuesday marked the second day back at school for children across China after the holidays.

State media reports indicate that the driver "lost control" of the vehicle. Following the incident, he was detained. Police are investigating the causes and circumstances of the event, and the BBC points out that it is not yet known if the incident was intentional.

Fatal traffic accidents are a frequent occurrence in China, the portal emphasizes. In July this year, a vehicle hit a group of pedestrians in Changsha, killing eight people and injuring several others.

In 2017, 12 people, including 11 preschoolers, died when a bus crashed and burst into flames in a tunnel in the same province where the recent accident occurred. It remains unclear whether a deliberate act or dangerous driving caused that event.