On October 22nd, during the Fourth Plenary Session of the Chinese Communist Party, a shocking incident occurred at the entrance of Chongqing Road Primary School in Shiyan City, Hubei Province. A white BYD car drove against traffic and plowed into students and parents waiting at the traffic lights, with witnesses claiming that 20 people were hit in the appalling scene.
According to surveillance footage circulating online, the incident took place at 5:29 pm on October 22nd at the intersection in front of Chongqing Road Primary School. Many students and parents were waiting at the traffic lights when a white BYD sedan suddenly accelerated against traffic, hitting pedestrians, some of whom were thrown into the air. The scene was described as gruesome, and the car fled the scene after hitting the pedestrians.
A parent named Liu Yan (pseudonym) from the school was picking up her child at the time and happened to be on the opposite side of the intersection where the incident occurred. She heard the sound of the car hitting people but due to her poor eyesight, she did not see the vehicle clearly. Her immediate concern was for the safety of the children and she did not pay attention to whether the driver was male or female.
There are reports suggesting that the driver fled the scene, while others indicate that the suspect is a young man who did not flee but stood calmly on the side smoking. However, these reports have not been verified.
In the heat of the moment, she instinctively ran across the road and witnessed the devastating scene. “I went to see, I was so scared, my legs were shaking, and saw many injured children on the ground, as well as adults, around 20 people were hit.”
She mentioned that the incident occurred when the first and second-grade students were leaving school, and the car drove against traffic, directly into the pedestrians waiting at the traffic lights. “I don’t know if it was intentional, but it was quite serious, and the children are innocent.”
When asked to describe the scene, she repeatedly mentioned that parents cannot bear to see such scenes and are reluctant to recall the incident. For now, all they can do is pray for the victims’ safety and hope for their well-being. “It’s too painful, I couldn’t sleep at all last night.”
Another local resident confirmed to a reporter that the incident was real, and discussions about it were rampant in every corner of Shiyan. While some speculate it was a retaliatory act against society, the government allegedly suppresses such discussions.
The authorities have blocked the news, deleted all videos and reports related to the incident from the internet, and locals are unable to share any information or videos on public platforms. Local netizens also mentioned that the accident scene was restricted, with designated personnel prohibiting filming; any mention of the incident on WeChat leads to the dissolution of the chat groups. Currently, the video is widely circulated overseas.
The timing of the event, occurring during the sensitive period of the Fourth Plenary Session of the Chinese Communist Party, has attracted attention from netizens. Some express their concerns, saying, “Under Xi Jinping’s rule, China is plagued with disasters.”
“The current state of society under the Communist Party’s rule is a continuous cycle of tragedies – a pitiful nation, with all problems stemming from the Communist Party.”
“If seeking retaliation against society, sabotaging a high-voltage power tower with an angle grinder is better than harming each other at the bottom level.”