16 punished over fatal road accident in E China

JINAN - Sixteen people were punished over a multi-vehicle pile-up in East China's Shandong province in August that killed 11 and injured 21.

The accident happened in Zibo city at around 8:23 am on August 11, when a heavily loaded tractor collided with an electric bicycle, a large van, a minivan and a bus at a road crossing.

According to an investigation report released by the provincial administration of work safety on Thursday, the illegal modification, overloading, speeding and poor brake performance of the tractor led to the tragedy.

The tractor driver was killed in the accident. A deputy director of the local agricultural machinery administration was arrested for abuse of power and neglect of duty. The other 15 people, including a county deputy head, were given punishments by local administrative and Party discipline agencies.