Eleven people, including five students, have died after a school bus lost control and crashed into a crowd in Tai'an City, Shandong Province, eastern China.

The incident happened on Tuesday morning at around 7:27 am, as reported by state broadcaster CCTV. The bus struck a group of parents and children gathered on the roadside, leading to the immediate deaths of six parents and five students.

PHOTO | COURTESY The road accident 

Authorities confirmed that one person remains in critical condition, while 12 others are reported to have stable vital signs. Heartbreaking images shared on social media, later verified by AFP, depict the aftermath, with blood-soaked clothes and distraught adults attending to the injured children.

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Local police have detained the bus driver, and an investigation into the cause of the crash is underway. This tragedy occurred when schools across China reopened for the new academic year.

Deadly traffic accidents are not uncommon in China, where poor safety standards and reckless driving are prevalent.