Han Ximin

    ximhan@126.com

    THE driver of a sedan lost control of her vehicle and knocked down dozens of pedestrians at Shenzhen International Airport in Bao’an District yesterday, killing at least seven and injuring 25 others, police said.

    The red Mercedez Benz rammed into a group of people who were standing at a viaduct 50 meters from the departure hall of the airport’s new terminal and watching planes taking off at around 3:30 p.m., the police said on their official microblog.

    By yesterday evening, seven people had been pronounced dead. The injured people were sent to five nearby hospitals.

    The driver, a 24-year-old woman surnamed Yang, has been detained, police said. Yang has three years of driving experience. She is also receiving treatment at a hospital. According to Yang’s boyfriend, Wu, she felt nervous when she heard other cars honking from behind and lost control of her car. Police didn’t give further details.

    Shenzhen Party chief Wang Rong visited Bao’an District Central Hospital to see the 15 patients who were receiving treatment there.

    A cab driver who was taking a passenger to the airport witnessed the accident, saying it was the most horrible thing he’s ever seen in his life, with people who were lined up in front of the viaduct’s fence being thrown into the air and off the viaduct or run over by the car.

    A netizen identified as @gogogocan said he often sees people standing at the location to watch planes departing and arriving. “It wasn’t safe,” he said, suggesting that police should ban people from standing there to watch planes.

    An investigation is under way.