Eight elementary students were killed while 32 passengers were seriously injured when the bus they were boarding overturned in Wenchang City, Hainan Province last week.

The schoolchildren were attending a spring outing organized by their school, the Hainan Xin Cai Elementary School, on that day when the the accident occurred, the police said.

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Initial investigation revealed that the bad weather and the bus driver's mishandling of the vehicle caused the bus to overturn. The accident killed eight children on the spot while 32 others were sent to the hospital for treatment.

Police said the driver took the risk of driving on a road that was under construction during a rainy day that made the road very slippery.

"The bus was not overloaded," said Sun Zhiyi, Director of Emergency Rescue Department of Hainan Safety Supervision Bureau, adding that the bus was filled to its capacity of 47 passengers.

The driver sustained only minor injury. He was arrested together with the principal of the elementary school, one of the school's owners and her husband, and an employee of the bus company, the police said on 12 April.

The bodies of the eight elementary pupils who perished in the accidents were sent back to their hometown and were buried at 2 p.m. on 11 April, the Hainan Chengmai County government said.

The local government also extended financial assistance of 100,000 yuan to each of the victim's family, and Hainan Airline Car Rental Co Ltd, which owned the ill-fated bus, provided 50,000 yuan to each of the victim's family.

Police of Nantong City suggested on Sina Weibo that it is important for schools and parents to prepare safety protection before and during the spring outing. The first suggestion is to select a safe traffic route, well performing traffic tools and experienced and skilful drivers.