Beijing: Nineteen people, including 17 pre-schoolers, were killed and 45 injured Wednesday when an overloaded nine-seater kindergarten school bus collided with a coal-laden truck in northwest China’s Gansu province, authorities said.
The accident happened around 9.40 a.m. in Yulinzi township in Qingyang city, reported Xinhua.
Five people, including four children, died at the spot, while 14 succumbed to their injuries later.
The work safety bureau of the city of Qingyang blamed overloading for the accident, saying the school bus — a van with nine seats — was carrying 64 people, most of whom were children from Little Doctor Kindergarten of Yulinzi township.
It said 45 people, mostly children, were hospitalised with injuries. Thirteen of them were in a serious condition.
The truck was carrying coal, it said. (IANS)