World News

5 dead after driver runs into group of schoolkids in China

By Ray Downs   |   Nov. 22, 2018 at 11:30 AM

Nov. 22 (UPI) -- A driver in China plowed into a group of schoolkids, killing five and injuring at least 19, Chinese state media reported Thursday.

A video of the incident originally posted by Global Times, but has since been taken down, shows the driver behind the wheel of a black Audi driving on the wrong side of the road when he hits the group of children who were crossing the street.

Advertising
Advertising

The victims were first-grade and kindergarten pupils at a nearby school.

The driver fled the scene but was arrested soon after. He was identified as Han Jihua, the son of the Communist Party boss of Qingniushan village in Jianchang county, the South China Morning Post reported.

"I admit, I admit everything," Han said, according to police.

According to The New York Times, many online commenters speculated that the deadly incident was "baofu shehui," or taking revenge on society. The phrase is sued to describe the motives of people who randomly attack civilians, such as the spate of mass stabbings China has seen in recent years, including 14 kindergarten children who were stabbed last month.