Van plunges into pond, killing 11 kindergartners in China

(CNN) -- Eleven children died after a kindergarten bus veered off a road and plunged into a pond in a city in southeast China, the nation's Xinhua news agency reported.

Three children died at the scene, and eight others were pronounced dead at a hospital, Xinhua said. Four children being treated for injuries were in stable condition, it said. All the children on the bus were between the ages of 4 and 6, state media reported.

The van was traveling on a road in Guixi City, which is in the municipality of Yingtan, when it plunged into water about 3 meters (10 feet) deep, the report said. State media reported that the van was speeding and that the driver had been detained by police. The driver apparently swerved to avoid an accident, state media said.

The children were from an unlicensed kindergarten that has been shuttered many times, CCTV said, according to state media.

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