A train slammed into a bus Thursday morning in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

The three fatalities were adults, two women and a man. Among the injured were at least 41 children under age 16. The youngest was five years old, according to sources with the Urumqi Rescue Center.

Many local residents immediately came to rescue the passengers, helping children escape and transport the injured in their cars. The accident occurred near two primary schools and a densely-populated commercial area in west Urumqi.

Munila, 11, a second grader in one of the nearby schools, is resting in a local hospital. "All I can remember is someone held me up and passed me to another man down the window." She only had some bruises on her left leg and a few scratches on her hand.

Treatment of the injured attracted attention from Internet users, with photos going viral through micro-blogs and forums. People crowded in local hospitals to donate blood for the injured.

The Route 531 bus was heavily damaged in the accident, with windows shattered and seats deformed. However, the bus was not twisted or severely deformed. The train left about one hour after the accident. No one aboard the train was injured.

Residents say that the buses on Route 531, which is contracted to a private company, are not maintained well and are extremely crowded during rush hour.