A video circulating online shows a black SUV plowing into a flock of sheep on the Qinghai-Gansu Great Loop (Qinggan Dahuanxian), a popular self-driving tourism route, killing 17 animals in the collision.

The footage, shared widely on Chinese social media, triggered debate over responsibility, compensation and road safety on one of western China's most scenic yet demanding driving routes.

Lawyers cited in the reports said the traffic police accident assessment is the core basis for insurance claims. They warned that leaving the scene without reporting could constitute a hit-and-run, which typically leads insurers to refuse compensation.

Legal experts added that responsibility would be apportioned according to the degree of fault on each side: if the sheep's owner failed to properly manage and confine the flock, or if the driver was speeding, distracted or otherwise in violation of traffic rules, liability would be divided on a proportional basis.

The incident highlights recurring risks along the loop route, where seasonal grazing, open roadsides and heavy tourist traffic converge. Officials and observers have repeatedly urged drivers to exercise caution in livestock areas and for herders to better secure their animals.

Police have not yet released an official statement on the case, and it remained unclear how the parties would resolve liability and damages.