Terrifying moment: 29 children injured by runaway ice cream truck rolling down hill after driver ‘released handbrake’ during ceremony in Kyrgyzstan

Terrifying footage shows the moment a runaway self-driving truck mowed down 29 schoolchildren at a festival in Kyrgyzstan today.

The truck was being used by an ice cream vendor when it suddenly started rolling downhill into a crowd of thousands of people, most of them looking in the opposite direction.

While some were able to run out of the way, many others were not so lucky and were hit as the truck plowed through one crowd after another.

Eighteen children were hospitalized, seven of whom were in intensive care.

The injured children were between nine and sixteen years old.

The shocking incident was captured on video from several angles, including by a drone hovering over the crowd as some children held up a large Kyrgyz flag.

Other children are seen sitting on the grass on the side of the hill.

Many were in costumes for the event – ​​a festival dedicated to Manas Epic, a legendary poem that has great cultural significance in the mountainous former Soviet republic – including traditional dresses and soldier outfits.

Suddenly the truck appears in the images further up the hill.

The hapless driver and security men ran to the truck when they realized the vehicle was out of control and driving through the crowd of children.

He begins to roll down towards the large crowd, increasing in speed, and accelerates as he climbs over a grassy berm with a steep drop on the other side.

Estimates suggest the blue Hyundai Porter pickup was traveling at 30 miles per hour.

At first it passes a row of mounted horses whose riders were able to put them aside in the nick of time.

The truck (which emerges from behind a tree at the top right) was being used by an ice cream vendor when it suddenly started rolling downhill into a crowd of thousands – most looking in the opposite direction

The shocking incident was captured on video from several angles, including by a drone hovering over the crowd as some children held up a large Kyrgyz flag. The trick is seen just after plowing through a group of people

The vehicle rolled down another steep slope and encountered yet another group of children, this time mostly sitting on the ground

More men were seen bravely sprinting towards the vehicle in an attempt to enter the cabin and stop it

However, a group of people further up the hill were not so lucky: the truck crashed through the crowd and even rolled over people.

The crowd’s shouts alerted some people in front of the truck who frantically tried to jump out of the way. Once again, however, some were not fast enough.

The vehicle rolled down another steep slope and encountered another group of children, this time mostly sitting on the ground.

They were also hit, with the truck rolling over at least one more.

More men were seen bravely sprinting towards the vehicle in an attempt to enter the cabin and stop it.

It eventually came to a stop after crashing through a marquee, footage shows.

An ambulance was seen rendering aid to the young victims of the runaway truck.

Children were seen lying injured, scattered on the grass.

“The driver forgot to apply the handbrake,” a report said.

A second clip of the incident shows the truck rolling down the hill

The truck finally came to a stop after crashing through a marquee (pictured)

The truck is seen to have come to a stop after plowing through a marquee

A Ministry of Health spokesperson said: ‘According to preliminary information, ice cream was being sold from the truck.’

Doctors were ordered by government officials to provide “high-quality medical care as well as necessary medicines.”

The country’s health minister, Alymkadyr Beishenaliev, took “personal control” over overseeing the treatment of the victims, it was reported.

Police have launched a preliminary investigation into the incident.