Vice-Premier Liu Yandong praised the bravery of three police officers - including one who was killed - as they tried to protect students from an out-of-control truck on Jan 15.

Liu conveyed her admiration for He Bing, who sacrificed his life to save others.

She asked local authorities to express her condolences to He’s relatives - and she also expressed sympathy for other members of the police force who were injured in the incident.

Liu also asked the authorities to do their utmost to help the injured.

The Minister of Public Security and State Councilor, Guo Shengkun, also expressed his condolences to He Bing’s family, and asked local authorities to express his sympathy for the injured members of the police force.

A team of police officers had been sent to direct the traffic at the gate of a middle school in a village of Shanxi province as students were leaving the premises when classes were over.

The accident happened when the breaks of a fully loaded truck failed as it was ascending a steep slope nearby, and it rolled backwards, crashing into eight cars.

He Bing and his two colleagues, Wang Fengzhan and Zhang Peng, immediately used their bodies to shield students, parents and other passers-by.

He Bing died in hospital, and Wang and Zhang were seriously injured.