Driver blamed for deadly Hainan bus overturn

Police and government officials in south China's Wenchang city have blamed a bus driver for a Thursday morning road accident in the southernmost province of Hainan that killed eight students and injured 32.

Read More: 8 pupils killed as bus overturns in Hainan

A bus carrying 47 people overturned at about 11am in Chengmai County, where Xincai School had organized an outing for 586 students on 14 buses, according to the statement from a press conference held in Hainan Wenchang People's Hospital.

The driver, surnamed Zhao, was blamed for driving on an under-construction road as well as improper operation, as the road was slippery due to rain. Zhao has been detained, according to the statement.

Of the injured, four were seriously wounded. They are receiving treatment at a local hospital. Sixteen of them have been discharged from the hospital.

The Xincai School, a private school, did not report to any authorities before organizing the outing, according to the government.

The head of the school has also been detained.

The county government has already paid 100,000 yuan ($16,258) to the families of each of those killed.