Shandong School Bus Tragedy

In a devastating incident early Tuesday morning, a public school bus in Tai'an city, Shandong province, eastern China, lost control and crashed into a group of parents and children outside a middle school entrance. The crash resulted in the deaths of 11 people, including five students, according to state news agency Xinhua.

Details of the Crash
The accident occurred around 7:27 a.m. local time when the bus driver lost control of the vehicle near the school. The bus veered off the road, striking a group of parents and students who were on the sidewalk. State broadcaster CCTV reported that among the deceased, six were parents and five were students. One person is in critical condition, while another 12 are in stable condition.

Photos and videos shared on social media platforms captured the harrowing aftermath of the crash. The images showed adults frantically attending to children lying on the road, with blood-stained clothes surrounding the large grey bus involved in the incident.

Bus Design and Safety Concerns
The bus involved was specifically designed and modified for student transportation. Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the accident, with safety concerns once again coming to the forefront.

Historical Context of School Bus Accidents in Shandong
This incident brings back memories of a tragic event in 2017 in Weihai, another city in Shandong province. In that accident, a school bus crashed and caught fire inside a tunnel, claiming the lives of 12 people, including 11 kindergarten students. Among the victims were the driver, six Chinese children, and five South Korean children. The cause of that crash remains uncertain, with lingering questions about whether it was an intentional act or due to unsafe driving.

Authorities are expected to thoroughly investigate the latest incident in Tai'an city to prevent further tragedies.

With inputs from agencies
Image Source: Multiple agencies