A motorist drove a vehicle into a crowd, causing 35 deaths and injuring many others during a hit-and-run incident in southern China, as confirmed by local authorities on Tuesday.

Chinese officials have labeled the incident as deliberate. It occurred around 8 p.m. local time on Monday when an individual drove a small SUV into a large gathering outside a sports venue in Zhuhai, a city located in Guangdong province, close to the Macau border, as reported by Reuters.

The crash happened at the Zhuhai Sports Center, according to a police statement issued on Tuesday.

SUV struck individuals engaged in exercise, say police

More than 40 individuals sustained injuries requiring hospitalization after being hit by the SUV while they were exercising, as noted in the police statement shared on X by the non-profit organization China Perspective. The Zhuhai police managed to detain the suspect at the scene after he tried to escape.

American news outlets, including Reuters and CBS News, stated that the details about the hit-and-run incident weren’t disclosed until Tuesday.

Driver reportedly unconscious, may have harmed himself with a knife

Authorities identified the 62-year-old suspect by the surname Fan, which is common in the region. Reports indicate that the suspect was unconscious and receiving treatment at a hospital for injuries that police described as self-inflicted, with a knife reportedly discovered inside the SUV.

A preliminary police investigation suggests that “Fan’s discontent following a divorce” triggered the incident, according to reports from Reuters.

Chinese President Xi Jinping issued a statement on Tuesday calling for the suspect to face punishment under Chinese law, as reported by CBS News.

Social media video depicts motionless individuals on the ground

Footage shared on X by a user named Teacher Li shows people lying on the ground, some appearing unresponsive, with cries and distress audible in the background.

“A car struck pedestrians at the Zhuhai Sports Center. Injured individuals were scattered on the ground everywhere. It was a horrifying scene. The vehicle fled after hitting people,” the social media user wrote in the post.

As reported by Reuters, Zhuhai is hosting China’s annual air show this week, where a new stealth fighter jet is expected to be showcased.