An out-of-control truck crashed into a large crowd of people on Saturday, killing at least eight people and injuring 10 others at a popular tourism spot in Nanyang City, Henan Province, domestic newspapers reported today.

Most of the victims were students from a local university who were on a hike at Dushan Forest Park for the Qingming Festival holiday, Beijing News reported.

The truck was transporting bags of dried cement when the driver lost control as it descended a road in the mountains.

The truck crashed into the park's gate where a crowd of people had gathered, the report said.

The truck's driver and a passenger kept shouting "Get out the way," to the crowd, according to the report.

The truck also smashed into several stores and damaged some parked cars, according to a photo from the Guangzhou-based Nanfang Metropolis Daily.

The victims included a child and his father. The child's mother was not injured. She was seen crying beside the bodies of her child and husband, the report said.

The mountain road has a special lane for trucks, the report said, citing a police officer. He added it was still unclear why the truck was allowed to run inside the park.

It was the first public holiday for Qingming Festival since the country's holiday schedule was revamped. People usually visit the tombs of their ancestors to honor them during the Qingming Festival.

(Shanghai Daily April 8, 2008)