A tragic incident occurred on Tuesday in eastern China when a school bus crashed into a crowd outside a middle school, resulting in the deaths of 11 parents and students. The state media reported that the driver lost control of the bus as it entered the vicinity of the school in Tai’an city, Shandong province, at 7:27 am local time. According to state broadcaster CCTV, the vehicle veered into a group of parents and children standing by the roadside.

The toll from the accident includes six parents and five students, with one individual in critical condition and 12 others reported to be in stable condition. Graphic images and videos shared on social media depicted a chaotic scene with people in blood-soaked clothing lying near the bus. Parents and others could be seen tending to injured children, while distressing cries could be heard in the background. One clip captured a woman’s voice lamenting the loss and expressing relief that she narrowly avoided being struck.

AFP confirmed the location of several social media photos and videos to the school in Shandong where the crash took place. Local authorities have detained the driver, and an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the accident.

This tragic event comes at a time when many public schools in China are reopening for the new academic year. The country has a history of frequent deadly traffic accidents, often attributed to lax safety standards and widespread disorderly driving. In a related incident in July, a vehicle collision in Changsha resulted in eight fatalities and five injuries. A 55-year-old suspect was detained, pending an investigation into whether the crash was intentional.