A motor tricycle ploughed into a group of students early Monday in east China's Zhejiang Province, injuring 15, local police said.

The accident occurred in Jiaxing City at around 6 a.m. on Hongxin Road in Xiuzhou District as more than 20 pupils waited near the road to catch the bus to school.

The injured students are aged between 6 and 12. They were rushed to Jiazhou City No. 1 Hospital and Xin'an International Hospital for treatment.

The youngest victim is 6-year-old Yang Shasha. Her liver was ruptured in the accident. She has undergone surgery and is in a critical condition.

The injuries the other students sustained are not life threatening.

The driver of the motor tricycle, Xu Huikang, has been taken into police custody.

Xu was trying to avoid colliding with an oncoming car when the accident happened, police said, adding that visibility at the time of the accident was low.

Police are investigating the accident.