At least 11 killed including 5 kids as bus ploughs into crowd outside school gates after driver ‘lost control’ in China

AT LEAST 11 people are dead including five children and six parents after a school bus ploughed into a crowd in China.

Dozens more were injured when the driver “lost control” and crashed into a group of parents and pupils standing outside a school in Tai’an city, state media reports.

Out of the 24 hurt, one remains in critical condition.

The driver was taken into custody and a police investigation has been launched.

They were reportedly on the way to the school to collect a group of students when tragedy struck, Shanghai-based Sina News reports.

Twelve other people from the scene are now in stable condition.

It comes only days after pupils went back to school for the beginning of a new academic year.

Horrific footage shared on social media – which The Sun has chosen not to publish – showed the scene of the accident.

Parents trying to help their injured children were visibly distraught after the smash.

One image posted to X showed the front of the wrecked bus rammed up against a tree.

The crash happened just before 7.30am local time in the eastern province of Shandong.

Dongping county police department did not give any details on who was responsible for operating the school bus as a probe was launched.

Many schools contract out bus services to private companies.

Deadly traffic collisions are not uncommon in China – just a few months ago in July another vehicle smashed into a group of pedestrians in Changsha.

Eight people were killed and several more injured.