Yesterday morning (September 3), a major traffic accident occurred at the entrance of a high school in Dongping County, Shandong Province. A bus lost control and plowed into a crowd, resulting in the deaths of 11 students and parents, with 13 others injured. The company operating the vehicle had only recently expanded its school bus service in March this year. Several top executives of the company hail from Shandong Dongping Transportation Co., Ltd.
At 7:27 am on September 3, a school bus carrying students approached the intersection of Xuchang Road in Dongping County when it lost control and veered towards the group of parents and students on the side of the road. At least 11 people have been confirmed dead so far, including six parents and five students.
Additionally, 13 individuals sustained injuries in the accident and were taken to the hospital for treatment, with one person listed in critical condition.
The driver responsible for the accident has been apprehended.
According to a witness, who happened to be passing by, the grey mid-sized bus involved suddenly veered from the road onto the sidewalk, striking multiple students waiting outside the school gate to enter for class.
A video circulating online shows a grey bus overturned on the sidewalk, with students and parents lying on the ground, covered in blood. Some of the injured were trapped underneath the vehicle, while distressed parents sat on the ground holding their children and wailing loudly.
The accident took place at Foshan Middle School in Dongping County, Shandong.
The bus involved in the incident displayed the name “Dongping Dongyuan Public Transportation Co., Ltd.” with a capacity for 52 passengers.
Information on the Dongping County government’s official website’s “Enterprise Information Disclosure” section reveals that the Dongping Dongyuan Public Transportation Co., Ltd. was established in March 2012 with a registered capital of 500,000 yuan. In July 2014, it was approved by the county party committee and government to undertake public transportation operations in the county.
Since 2015, the company has gradually acquired 143 new energy vehicles to operate public transport routes in the county, covering four urban and 22 urban-rural routes.
Tianyancha data shows that Dongping Dongyuan was founded in March 2012, with 100% ownership by Shandong Taian Shiyuan Agriculture Technology Co., Ltd. (referred to as Taian Shiyuan Agriculture), where Zhao Fangzhong holds a 95% stake. Their business scope includes road passenger transport station operation, urban public transport, school bus operation services, and road passenger transport operation. Incidentally, the company has been sued five times for motor vehicle traffic accident liability disputes from 2016 to date.
Notably, in March 2024, Dongping Dongyuan had just added school bus operation services to its business scope.
Taian Shiyuan Agriculture, formerly known as Shandong Dongping Transportation Tourism Development Co., Ltd., was established in September 2009. Despite being named an agricultural company, its subsidiaries are primarily engaged in transportation-related businesses, including two driver training institutions.
Tianyancha information indicates that Shandong Dongping Transportation Co., Ltd. was founded in 2006 by Zhao Fangzhong and several other individuals, with a registered capital of 1.89 million yuan. Initially, Zhao Fangzhong held 82.71% of shares, which were later transferred to Taian Shiyuan Agriculture. Currently, Taian Shiyuan Agriculture holds a 99.5% stake in the company.
From 2012 to 2022, Shandong Dongping Transportation Co., Ltd. has been sued 25 times for motor vehicle traffic accident liability disputes.
Public records reveal that several executives of Dongping Dongyuan previously worked for Shandong Dongping Transportation Co., Ltd.
In a public notice from the local government in 2021 regarding early retirement for specific job categories, Zhao Fangzhong was born in September 1966 and began working in August 1988. His last unit before retirement was the Shandong Dongping Transportation Co., Ltd., where he served as a “car driver.”
On the other hand, leadership information released by Dongping Dongyuan indicates that the company was established in March 2012 and Zhao Fangzhong was appointed as the General Manager.
How did Dongping Dongyuan obtain the school bus service business?
Efforts to reach Zhao Fangzhong via personal phone calls were unsuccessful as no one answered the calls.
A staff member from the Dongping County Transportation Bureau mentioned that they were not clear on the company’s operational status and that the investigation into the accident is ongoing. All information is subject to the conclusions of the investigation.