In a tragic accident in eastern China, a bus crashed into a crowd of students and their parents outside a middle school in Tai'an city, Shandong province, resulting in the deaths of 11 people and injuries to 13 others. The incident occurred just before 7:30 a.m. local time on Tuesday, coinciding with the second day of the school year following the summer break.
According to the Dongping county police department, the victims included six parents and five students. The collision happened at a T-junction near the school gate, where the bus lost control and veered into the crowd before crashing into a tree. One of the injured is in critical condition, while the others are reported to be in stable condition.
The bus involved was reportedly a specially customized vehicle for student transport, though the exact details of its operation remain unclear. The driver has been detained for questioning as authorities investigate the cause of the accident. The Dongping police department's statement did not specify whether the bus was operated by a private company or an individual contractor, a common practice in China's educational sector.
This accident has reignited concerns about school safety in China, where incidents involving school buses have a troubling history. In 2017, a similar tragedy occurred in Weihai city, also in Shandong province, where a school bus crash claimed the lives of 12 people, including 11 kindergarten students. That accident, which involved a bus bursting into flames inside a tunnel, highlighted longstanding issues with transportation safety for schoolchildren.
The crash in Tai'an has drawn significant attention on social media platforms in China, particularly on Weibo, where the incident has garnered over 190 million views. Public reaction has been one of shock and sorrow, with many expressing sympathy for the families affected by the tragedy. "It's so tragic, I can't imagine the pain the parents must be feeling," one user commented, reflecting the widespread grief over the incident.
The school's response to the crash has been focused on ensuring that remaining students continue their education while managing the aftermath of the accident. The school, as reported by state-run news outlet China Newsweek, confirmed that the bus was operated by an external company, which is now under scrutiny.
This incident is part of a broader pattern of safety concerns in China's educational environment. Past years have seen a series of severe accidents involving overloaded buses and attacks on students by individuals using knives or homemade explosives. These incidents often stem from personal grievances or broader social tensions.
In response to these recurrent issues, China has implemented stricter regulations and inspections for school transportation. Despite these measures, the persistent nature of such tragedies suggests ongoing challenges in ensuring the safety and security of school environments across the country.
