In a tragic incident near the intersection of Yucai Road and Dongmen Street in Miyun District, Beijing on June 26, a man driving a car struck a group of elementary school students, resulting in a total of 11 casualties, including both fatalities and injuries. Six students lost their lives on the spot. Authorities initially attributed the accident to improper driving by the driver, but eyewitnesses at the scene claimed that the driver got into a quarrel with his wife inside the car and impulsively hit the pedestrians in an act resembling societal retaliation.
According to the report from the Miyun police, the accident occurred around 1 p.m. on the 26th, involving a 35-year-old man named Han. Preliminary investigations indicated that Han accidentally collided with pedestrians due to improper operation while driving a minivan along the road. The injured individuals were promptly taken to receive medical treatment, and the incident is currently under further investigation and handling.
One eyewitness who spoke to a reporter mentioned that upon arriving at the scene, the pedestrian collision had already taken place. He described witnessing several children lying on the ground, beyond help. As per his account, six individuals died as a result of the accident, with a total of 11 people being hit.
He explained that at the time of the incident, the children were returning to school from a dining hall (care class) and happened to be crossing the road when the collision occurred.
The same witness added that he couldn’t provide further details due to many individuals who disclosed information being summoned by the police.
Another eyewitness stated that the children were crossing the road when the car hit them directly, resulting in a girl losing her spleen.
Regarding the reasons behind the driver’s action, the first eyewitness mentioned that the driver was quarreling with his wife in the car, leading to the impulsive act of hitting the pedestrians, which can be seen as a form of societal revenge. “There’s nothing we can do, all sorts of people are out there these days.”
A citizen named Li expressed deep sorrow after watching the scene video, lamenting the tragedy of the situation and expressing heartfelt sympathy for the young children. The children, under the care of two teachers, were on their way from the care class to school, with two adults unable to save so many children in such a situation.
Furthermore, a netizen informed the reporter that there were rumors about the driver being under the influence of alcohol, but this information has not been officially confirmed.
According to reports from Caixin, the accident site is located adjacent to the west side of Miyun District First Elementary School branch campus, with several restaurants and Miyun First Elementary School on the east side. The injured students are believed to be from Miyun First Elementary School. The injured individuals were taken to Peking University First Hospital and Miyun District Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital for treatment.
It was reported that in December of last year, Miyun First Elementary School had stationed a considerable number of security personnel at the school gate. However, at that time, many netizens perceived this move as a superficial measure without any practical significance. Consequently, their concerns were proven right when the tragic pedestrian collision occurred on the 26th.
Due to the sensitive nature of the incident occurring in Beijing, authorities have rigorously restricted information flow post-incident. Videos and images circulated online were swiftly deleted, amplifying public interest in the event. Citizens hope that the media will uncover the truth behind the incident.
A netizen named Joe lamented on platform X, saying the real danger lies not in carrying a hidden knife, but in harboring hatred within one’s heart; behind incidents involving vehicle collisions, stabbings, and indiscriminate attacks on innocents is a problem of the human heart; in a society lacking outlets for expression, avenues for addressing grievances, psychological counseling, and social support, resorting to societal retaliation becomes their only way to be “heard.”
He mentioned, “Security checks may stop knives, but they can’t stop someone who wishes to die. Surveillance cameras may capture faces clearly, but they can’t see a heart crumbling.”