BEIJING, April 8 (Reuters) - A loaded cement truck lost control on a mountain road in central China, crashed through the gate of a park and ran down more than 20 people, killing eight, a newspaper said on Tuesday.

The accident happened on Saturday in Nanyang, Henan province, during a long weekend after the country introduced its Tomb-Sweeping Day holiday on Friday. Many of the victims were students.

"Get out of the way!," the Beijing News, quoting witnesses, said the driver was shouting out the window when he realised his brakes had failed.

More than 20 people were knocked down and five cars were damaged. Ten people were injured.

Several college students, who were to have spent the weekend climbing, were among the dead, the newspaper said.

(Reporting by Beijing newsroom; Editing by Nick Macfie)

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