At Least 28 Passengers Killed When A Bus Was Caught On Fire

[george]

Update:

It was an old vehicle

The bus that caught fire and plunged off the road and into a bank on Tuesday in Saraburi, killing 29 passengers, had been in use for 36 years, a senior public transport official said yesterday.

Banthoon Yuwawat, chief of the pubic transport office in Ubon Ratchathani where the bus was registered, said Sri Sa-nguan Yanyont Co Ltd, which operated the Yasothon-Bangkok bus service, registered the vehicle in 1971.

Adul Boonthook, the driver who survived the accident, was a well-behaved man who would not have been driving in a reckless manner prior to the accident, said Sompong Thongphairoj, a fellow driver at the firm.

The firm said Adul, 35, was promoted to leading driver a year ago, after serving as a co-driver and initially as a bus attendant.

The accident left 29 passengers dead at the scene. One person died in hospital later. Another 35 people suffered from burns.

Police have not completed their investigation into

the accident or determined what was the cause of the fire.

A survivor was quoted as saying the fire came from underneath the bus, which could not stop as it went downhill because the brake system had failed.

--The Nation 2007-03-22

[george]

Next of kin flock to Siriraj Hospital to claim bodies

About 200 relatives of victims who died in Tuesday's bus crash in Saraburi flocked to Siriraj Hospital yesterday to identify the bodies of their loved ones.

Many of the relatives were in shock and refused to talk to reporters, who crowded the hospital.

Photos of the dead, most of whom were burnt beyond recognition, were placed on the hospital's notice board. Relatives burst into tears and some fainted after looking at the pictures.

Twenty-nine passengers died after their Bangkok-bound bus caught fire and careered down a hill when its brakes failed.

Yupin Wongwanichjit, 30, who lost her mother Surin Sae Han, 59, in the accident said Surin was on her way back from Roi Et where she had gone to pick up her neice, Wilaiporn Kiewnamchum, 9, who was injured in the accident.

"Before going to Roi Et, she came to see me at Samut Sakhon," said Yupin. "I asked her to wait until the end of the month, then I would drive her to Roi Et, but she refused."

Yupin received a phone call informing her about the accident, but she was still optimistic that Surin might be safe. But when she reached Muek Lek Hospital, she found her mother had died.

According to Yupin, Wilaiporn recalled that she and Surin were woken by a loud noise and found out that the bus had caught fire. Surin told her niece to jump from the bus, but she herself couldn't escape in time.

Kaewpoon Wongsapon, 59, said six of her relatives were on the bus. One of them was confirmed dead while two survived. The other three were still unidentified.

The dead relative was her 29-year-old niece, who was travelling back to Bangkok after visiting her child in Maha Sarakham. Kaewpoon recognised the body of her niece from her rings and clothes.

Kaewpoon said before the accident, her surviving 14-year-old niece called her from the bus complaining that it had broken down and she was scared.

"I told her 'Don't be scared. There are many people on the bus, including your family. You'll get home okay.' But I never thought such an accident would happen," she said.

Kaewpoon came to claim the bodies of her family members at Siriraj Hospital together with about 20 other relatives.

--The Nation 2007-03-22

[sriracha john]

Are there no police checkpoints for these buses? I have taken VIP govt buses in the past (from Surat Thani) and have always had at least one stop in the middle of the night at a police checkpoint where the police got on the bus to check out the passengers.

That's about all the police will dare to do; check for illegals or other wanted persons on the coaches or visit the carnage after an accident. They will generally not interfere in any other way given the links between the bus company owners and certain influential persons.

True. Our bus company is owned by a convicted murderer who was granted bail AFTER his conviction and rather unsurprisingly has been running on the lam ever since. He was a mayor and his son was a former Thaksin Cabinet member.

[sriracha john]

Thailand is truly amazing, but I don't think even Thailand would arrest a dead person nor send him to prison:

"Rescuers found 28 dead and burnt bodies including that of the bus driver, and another died in a nearby hospital."

Bangkok Post

I was going from a radio report I heard this morning which also said he had only minor injuries. Matichon reports it's not known whether the driver escpaed or not and Thai Rath lists him among the injured.

Who knows?

Adul Boonthook, the driver who survived the accident, was a well-behaved man who would not have been driving in a reckless manner prior to the accident, said Sompong Thongphairoj, a fellow driver at the firm.

The Nation

As is common in Thailand, it's usually best to go with a plurality in the media reports, even if various reports are complete opposites of each other and even when it would seem the reported event SHOULD be very clearly evident... such, as in this case, as to whether someone is dead or alive.

So based on a majority of reports... the driver, it would seem, did survive.

Edited March 21, 2007 by sriracha john

[Ga-gai]

So much for the "wreckless driver" theory then, as other posters were keen on their far to hasty conclusions. The driver did what he could, but the bus were going downhill and there where no chance in h*ll to stop it.

As I mentioned before. It is often the companies that are to blame for the accidents, stressing their employees to just don't bother about safety or maintenance. This bus would probably do better in a scrap yard, than transporting people on the roads.

Edited March 21, 2007 by Ga-gai

[RHCP]

It seems that one of the contributory factors in this awful event was that the bus was overcrowded so impeding access. This is a common situation on these bus services having experienced it myself. I recall a trip to Pattaya several years ago when the staff instructed everyone to close the curtains so as to be able to cram on as many people on board during the journey whilst not drawing the attention of the authorities. There were 3 people sitting on each of the two seats and the aisle was packed. There probably was at least 100 people on that bus.

I am waiting for the day when some incident happens on the BTS and MRT during the especially serious overcrowding peak period of travel in the morning.

[Ga-gai]

The Bus was registered in 1971, probably made in 1970.

It is 2007 now.

Doesn't that ring a bell...?

[Tarragona]

It seems that maybe, just maybe, this tragedey could have been avoided. Why on earth didn't the driver stop when asked to?

Difficult if the brakes failed.

[rogerman]

Let this be a big lesson to the Thai people that if they don't maintain anything and also since they don't have any transport standards this sort of thing will happen....hopefully something will be done this time

[The Skipper]

Maybe it's just me, but the BTS drivers seem to be hotdogging sometimes.

Are these cars computer controlled or are we at the mercy of some former bus driver running the trains?

[taxexile]

Photos of the dead, most of whom were burnt beyond recognition, were placed on the hospital's notice board. Relatives burst into tears and some fainted after looking at the pictures.

nice to see some tact and consideration from the hospital authorities.

wonder if those who fainted were charged for treatment.

The Bus was registered in 1971, probably made in 1970.

i dont think that this is so important.

of the original bus , i reckon only the chassis will date from 1970 , the seating and bodywork will all have been replaced probably more than once.

i also heard that the bus was 3 weeks short of its annual inspection , if that has any meaning here in thailand.

i cant figure out how a diesel fuelled bus can catch fire like that.

overheating brakes can cause a localised fire around the wheel , but how could it have consumed the whole bus so quickly .

[loong]

Pol Col Nisakorn Boontanont, Muak Lek district police chief, said passengers who survived the accident reported having seen flames streaming from the rear of the bus.

The passengers had alerted the driver to the fire, but he had not stopped the bus to allow them to get off, Pol Col Nisakorn said.

Some of the passengers had decided to jump out of the bus while it was still moving.

The driver eventually lost control of the vehicle which skidded off the highway and was engulfed in flames.

Passengers said the bus had a brake problem earlier when it was in Pak Chong district in Nakhon Ratchasima. The driver stopped there to get the problem fixed.

But when the bus was in Saraburi a wheel caught fire and the blaze spread to the engine. The brakes then failed to work.

It seems that maybe, just maybe, this tragedey could have been avoided. Why on earth didn't the driver stop when asked to? What goes through the minds of these people?

I can't believe that a bus driver would refuse to stop after a fire had started. The brakes had failed, so he was unable to stop.

The Bus was registered in 1971, probably made in 1970.

It is 2007 now.

Doesn't that ring a bell...?

Sorry, no bells ringing here

[marshbags]

So much for the "wreckless driver" theory then, as other posters were keen on their far to hasty conclusions. The driver did what he could, but the bus were going downhill and there where no chance in h*ll to stop it.

Nothing personal G.G, but i feel you are misguided when we consider the facts both before starting the journey and during.

The bus driver knowingly drove with several safety problems apparent, he continued to drive in spite of continuing warnings that were forcing themselves upon him.

He knew that the bus wasn,t fit to drive from the outset and should have refused to drive it !!!!!

He did NOT do what he could have, not only before the journey started but also along the way as problems arose.

He was fully aware the brakes were failing and yet he chose to continue.

He should have stopped the vehicle immediately once the brakes failed and again when the fire started.

ALL passengers should have been evacuated, along with themselves ( employees. )

Please no nonsense about being afraid to refuse when such important safety issues were in question.

Yes,

Ultimately the Bus company / business must pay the price and take full responsibiltiy for this tragic accident.

But the driver must also be judged on his role in this I have to say.

After yet another " accident " will owners, Govermental authorities and the employees who drive and supervise the overloading and safety aspects of ALL journeys learn from it all ??????

I think we all know the answer to this i,m sorry to say.

As I mentioned before. It is often the companies that are to blame for the accidents, stressing their employees to just don't bother about safety or maintenance. This bus would probably do better in a scrap yard, than transporting people on the roads.

The headline 28 / 29 dead is just a statistic.

WE have to look behind it to understand fully the horrific details and distress they will bring to the loved ones.

This also effects ALL caring human beings who witness such sorrow and heartache.

How very sad these sort of headlines ect. are yet again.

For the url for todays Nation for anyone who hasn,t seen it, please go to:-

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/

There is a photo that speaks volumes on the behind the headlines issue.

Scroll to.....

Quote:-

Grieving relatives of bus victims will sue

Grieving relatives of passengers killed when their Bangkok-bound coach caught fire and careered down a hill in Saraburi on Tuesday will sue bus company Sri Sanguan Yanyont.

Unquote.

for some more details and apologies if you,ve read them already.

marshbags very and and and sick of nothing being done.

Edited March 22, 2007 by marshbags

[ratcatcher]

So much for the "wreckless driver" theory then, as other posters were keen on their far to hasty conclusions. The driver did what he could, but the bus were going downhill and there where no chance in h*ll to stop it.

Nothing personal G.G, but i feel you are misguided when we consider the facts both before starting the journey and during.

The bus driver knowingly drove with several safety problems apparent, he continued to drive in spite of continuing warnings that were forcing themselves upon him.

He knew that the bus wasn,t fit to drive from the outset and should have refused to drive it !!!!!

He did NOT do what he could have, not only before the journey started but also along the way as problems arose.

He was fully aware the brakes were failing and yet he chose to continue.

He should have stopped the vehicle immediately once the brakes failed and again when the fire started.

ALL passengers should have been evacuated, along with themselves ( employees. )

Please no nonsense about being afraid to refuse when such important safety issues were in question.

Yes,

Ultimately the Bus company / business must pay the price and take full responsibiltiy for this tragic accident.

But the driver must also be judged on his role in this I have to say.

After yet another " accident " will owners, Govermental authorities and the employees who drive and supervise the overloading and safety aspects of ALL journeys learn from it all ??????

I think we all know the answer to this i,m sorry to say.

As I mentioned before. It is often the companies that are to blame for the accidents, stressing their employees to just don't bother about safety or maintenance. This bus would probably do better in a scrap yard, than transporting people on the roads.

The headline 28 / 29 dead is just a statistic.

WE have to look behind it to understand fully the horrific details and distress they will bring to the loved ones.

This also effects ALL caring human beings who witness such sorrow and heartache.

How very sad these sort of headlines ect. are yet again.

For the url for todays Nation for anyone who hasn,t seen it, please go to:-

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/

There is a photo that speaks volumes on the behind the headlines issue.

Scroll to.....

Quote:-

Grieving relatives of bus victims will sue

Grieving relatives of passengers killed when their Bangkok-bound coach caught fire and careered down a hill in Saraburi on Tuesday will sue bus company Sri Sanguan Yanyont.

Unquote.

for some more details and apologies if you,ve read them already.

marshbags very and and and sick of nothing being done.

As is usually the case, the owners of this bus company, Sri Sanguan Yanyont Transport, are probably wealthy Thais. One can only hope that the victims will sue the owners for everything they own-yes everything including homes and expensive cars. THE LOT!

B100,000 is not enough compensation for the loss of a family member. It's an insult, pocket change to the owners.

. This cavalier attitude to human life in many countries, including western countries, must stop. However, money rules, so getting the last buck or baht out of a vehicle is all that matters.

Overloading buses beyond their stated capacity is illegal (Yes ,I know T.I.T.) but surely this accident should be on everyone's mind when boarding a bus.

Now it's time to pay up. The hundreds of people affected by this and similiar tragedies due to gross negligence will live the rest of their lives with this tragedy etched in their memory.

There is no point in blaming the poor driver. He was no doubt under pressure to keep a schedule as they all are.

There are dozens of men waiting to take his place if he refuses a trip in a bad order vehicle.

With the looming Songkran holiday and the related road kill, it's time for the police and relevant authorities to take stock and check all vehicles carrying fare paying passengers.

Edited March 22, 2007 by ratcatcher

[Heng]

Ah yes Thaigene2, and you are....?

..someone always looking for a good debate my friend.

.....it's a comment on generally dangerous behavior on the part of a lot of living folks who ALL have the choice, no matter how unwashed they happen to be, to apply a little common sense and patience and NOT crowd onto buses, song taews, boats, the BTS, etc.

Agreed..but inter-provincial buses like this one don't usually have people standing in the aisles...right? Did you see references to people standing around?

No need for anyone to chase me down the street. I'm always more than happy to sign autographs.

Nice one..

It's clearly stated from more than a few sources in this thread that the bus was overloaded. Would you get on a plane where there was no seating left, but the flight attendants said, don't worry about it, pile on in! Do you want to wait a whole hour before the next flight? Yes, it would be easy to blame the airline (who is also at fault) for one's own stupidity.

[taxexile]

perhaps the paperwork ( if it exists) relating to the first brake repair should be looked at.

just how were they repaired , and was the mechanic working on it competent enough to do so.

was it a proper repair , or one of the more common bodge - up cheapo repairs that we are all so familiar with.

[taxexile]

It's clearly stated from more than a few sources in this thread that the bus was overloaded. Would you get on a plane where there was no seating left, but the flight attendants said, don't worry about it, pile on in! Do you want to wait a whole hour before the next flight? Yes, it would be easy to blame the airline (who is also at fault) for one's own stupidity.

airlines are bound by international regulations.

thai bus companies are bound by nothing.

and the chances are that if the 9.00am bus is overcrowded , and you choose to get off , then the 9.30am bus will also be overcrowded , and the 10.00am , and the 10.30 etc.etc.etc........

you cant blame the passengers for what happened to them. they buy their tickets and get on the bus.

if they change their mind , do they get a refund ? ............

as i have said , the public here are treated terribly by each and every service provider in the country , from the government down to the most local shop. people are taken advantage of , cheated , pressured , and there is just no accountability built in to the system , those with any power can wield it ruthlessly. there is nowhere for the oppressed to turn to to air their grievances and gain some redress.

what i cant understand , and heng , you as a thai might be able to provide an answer , is why have the people put up with such frustrations and being taken for fools for so long .

in most countries there would have been violent revolution by now.

[Heng]

It's clearly stated from more than a few sources in this thread that the bus was overloaded. Would you get on a plane where there was no seating left, but the flight attendants said, don't worry about it, pile on in! Do you want to wait a whole hour before the next flight? Yes, it would be easy to blame the airline (who is also at fault) for one's own stupidity.

airlines are bound by international regulations.

thai bus companies are bound by nothing.

and the chances are that if the 9.00am bus is overcrowded , and you choose to get off , then the 9.30am bus will also be overcrowded , and the 10.00am , and the 10.30 etc.etc.etc........

you cant blame the passengers for what happened to them. they buy their tickets and get on the bus.

if they change their mind , do they get a refund ? ............

as i have said , the public here are treated terribly by each and every service provider in the country , from the government down to the most local shop. people are taken advantage of , cheated , pressured , and there is just no accountability built in to the system , those with any power can wield it ruthlessly. there is nowhere for the oppressed to turn to to air their grievances and gain some redress.

what i cant understand , and heng , you as a thai might be able to provide an answer , is why have the people put up with such frustrations and being taken for fools for so long .

in most countries there would have been violent revolution by now.

Call it an unregulated charter airline then. Believe it or not, everyone can still control their own destinies without having to blame or depend on the next guy/gal higher up the ladder.

As a Thai, I'd venture to say that most folks are just a little more content (broad generalization as there are plenty who aren't) with what they have (whether it's a little or a lot), than folks in "most other countries."

[taxexile]

Believe it or not, everyone can still control their own destinies without having to blame or depend on the next guy/gal higher up the ladder.

if you have to get from buri ram or wherever to bangkok , to get a job , visit a relative , etc. and you dont have your own car , then you are dependant on public transport.

and you are entitled to travel knowing that basic safety measures are employed , and that includes responsible driving and maintenance. accidents happen everywhere , most of them down to human error somewhere along the line.

if the companies were bound by strict regulation , enforced fairly , and they were heavily punished financially for breaches , it would concentrate the minds of the owners and operatives so that procedures were followed.

its not rocket science.

the population deserve no less.

[Heng]

Believe it or not, everyone can still control their own destinies without having to blame or depend on the next guy/gal higher up the ladder.

if you have to get from buri ram or wherever to bangkok , to get a job , visit a relative , etc. and you dont have your own car , then you are dependant on public transport.

and you are entitled to travel knowing that basic safety measures are employed , and that includes responsible driving and maintenance. accidents happen everywhere , most of them down to human error somewhere along the line.

if the companies were bound by strict regulation , enforced fairly , and they were heavily punished financially for breaches , it would concentrate the minds of the owners and operatives so that procedures were followed.

its not rocket science.

the population deserve no less.

I'm not saying they don't. I'm saying that no one gets a free pass, from the Dept. of Transport right down to the consumer. We're in agreement, with the exception that you believe the bottom of the barrel somehow deserves a free pass just because they are at the bottom of the barrel. It's human error on their part from step one, getting on an overloaded bus (or exiting the bus in an inorderly fashion in an emergency situation, trampling over others trying to get out while trying to take all of your bags with you, etc.).

edit: the difference here is that I'm offering practical solutions, while you're trying to change the recipe for the pie in the sky (nothing wrong with wanting to do that). If the goal is to safeguard one's life, regular folks CAN make better decisions.

Edited March 22, 2007 by Heng

[marquess]

Believe it or not, everyone can still control their own destinies without having to blame or depend on the next guy/gal higher up the ladder.

if you have to get from buri ram or wherever to bangkok , to get a job , visit a relative , etc. and you dont have your own car , then you are dependant on public transport.

and you are entitled to travel knowing that basic safety measures are employed , and that includes responsible driving and maintenance. accidents happen everywhere , most of them down to human error somewhere along the line.

if the companies were bound by strict regulation , enforced fairly , and they were heavily punished financially for breaches , it would concentrate the minds of the owners and operatives so that procedures were followed.

its not rocket science.

the population deserve no less.

Here Here!

[threelegcowboy]

All,

I am no expert however I have an opinon.

I have traveled through steep mountains a number of times with these buses and observed what the crew is doing. During steep mountain trips they have stopped the bus for a while to let the brakes cool down. They are checking the levels of brake fluid etc.

As I understand when there is a leak the brake fluid that is under pressure can become flamable at that leaking point. So here is the situation. Overheated because of the mountain road, a leak up front with the brake fluid and resulting fire. Then it spread rapidly in the front area of the bus where the DOOR is located.

That day I bet was very hot and at the start of the hot season when all potential heat problems will be tested.

Do not know if these buses have emergency breaks or not.

If only they had been able to break the window early on and gotten out.

Must have been hel_l on earth.

RIP

LLL

[Gumballl]

Maybe it's me BUT where in this thread does it say that there was any impact ???

It doesn't say that there was an accident resulting in a fire.

Great powers of deduction

SARABURI: -- At least 28 people were killed and 14 seriously injured on Tuesday when a Bangkok-bound bus caught fire and careened down a hillside in Saraburi. The bus from Yasothorn caught fire on a major four lane highway in Saraburi.

After the fire broke out, the bus veered off the road and crashed down a hillside, police added.

Right there genius

Maybe improve your basic reading skills before making remarks about others' deductive powers that just wind up making you look silly.

Um, the accident came as a result of the fire... not before. I think that is what John B Good was attempting to state.

[Gumballl]

Tragic as it is, these types of accidents occur in 1st-world countries too. In the US for example, a similar type incident occurred with a bus transporting elderly persons who were being relocated from Louisiana to (somewhere) Texas after Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast region.

Many of the victims in the US accident had oxygen canisters (to assist with their respective breathing problems), and these canisters exacerbated the fire. Needless to say, I recall that all of the passengers in this particular bus had died in the fire. The driver survived.

The Thai incident is a tragedy, and the blame probably falls into the hands of the driver, but more importantly into that of the person responsible for maintaining the bus.

Edited March 22, 2007 by Gumballl

[taxexile]

while you're trying to change the recipe for the pie in the sky

the changes have to come from the top , lead by example and all that.

this has nothing to do with people at "the bottom of the barrel" or "the top of the barrel" , accidents can hit anybody at any time.

this bus could have run into a minibus from a reputable and expensive hire company full of schoolkids from an expensive school , or a convoy of industrialists in a fleet of mercedes benzes , the cause of the accident is the same .

lack of responsibility , passing the buck , no accountability , and shoulder shrugging from the lawmakers and law enforcers who are in control of a society in crisis at the moment , a society running without brakes down a steep hill.

[Thai-Spy]

It's clearly stated from more than a few sources in this thread that the bus was overloaded. Would you get on a plane where there was no seating left, but the flight attendants said, don't worry about it, pile on in! Do you want to wait a whole hour before the next flight? Yes, it would be easy to blame the airline (who is also at fault) for one's own stupidity.

airlines are bound by international regulations.

thai bus companies are bound by nothing.

and the chances are that if the 9.00am bus is overcrowded , and you choose to get off , then the 9.30am bus will also be overcrowded , and the 10.00am , and the 10.30 etc.etc.etc........

you cant blame the passengers for what happened to them. they buy their tickets and get on the bus.

if they change their mind , do they get a refund ? ............

as i have said , the public here are treated terribly by each and every service provider in the country , from the government down to the most local shop. people are taken advantage of , cheated , pressured , and there is just no accountability built in to the system , those with any power can wield it ruthlessly. there is nowhere for the oppressed to turn to to air their grievances and gain some redress.

what i cant understand , and heng , you as a thai might be able to provide an answer , is why have the people put up with such frustrations and being taken for fools for so long .

in most countries there would have been violent revolution by now.

Call it an unregulated charter airline then. Believe it or not, everyone can still control their own destinies without having to blame or depend on the next guy/gal higher up the ladder.

As a Thai, I'd venture to say that most folks are just a little more content (broad generalization as there are plenty who aren't) with what they have (whether it's a little or a lot), than folks in "most other countries."

With all due respect, it is a "contentment" which is largely rooted in ignorance, apathy. and perpetual disenfranchisement. Strong words? Perhaps. But how else to represent the general lack of awareness among Thais that change is both possible and desirable, at least as far as safety and health standards and on consumer protection issues in general?

When every bus going from point A to point B is to one degree or another unsafe; when the alternative of private transportation is unduly fraught with peril because of lax enforcement of traffic law; when government, industry, and the general populace all adopt an attitude which values money and personal convenience over safety, then how can the individual "control their own destiny"?

The overall problem of safety in Thailand has many causes, many of which formerly existed in the West and were overcome. Unfortunately, Thailand largely lacks many of the traditions that lead to those solutions in the West. Effective labor unions for one. Self-empowered advocates (Ralph Nader for example) for another. And as a third, politicians who are willing to act effectively in defense of the public interest as vigorously as they do in defense of business interests or their own careers.

Certainly every Westerner has felt at one time or another a victim of too much regulation in his home country, very often in the workplace or on the roads. But there's definitely something to be said for being able to go one town over without taking your life in your hands and for living long enough to draw a pension with all limbs intact as well. That just proves the point that it's possible to be both free and safe. Here's hoping the Thais arrive at the same awareness and demand change before too many more tragedies like this occur.

[sriracha john]

Photos of the dead, most of whom were burnt beyond recognition, were placed on the hospital's notice board. Relatives burst into tears and some fainted after looking at the pictures.

nice to see some tact and consideration from the hospital authorities.

wonder if those who fainted were charged for treatment.

A woman cries while looking at Siriraj Hospital’s notice board which displays pictures of the dead from the horrendous bus crash. About 200 people crowded a morgue yesterday to look for their loved ones.

The Nation - Photos in the News

[marshbags]

Ah yes Thaigene2, and you are....?

..someone always looking for a good debate my friend.

.....it's a comment on generally dangerous behavior on the part of a lot of living folks who ALL have the choice, no matter how unwashed they happen to be, to apply a little common sense and patience and NOT crowd onto buses, song taews, boats, the BTS, etc.

Agreed..but inter-provincial buses like this one don't usually have people standing in the aisles...right? Did you see references to people standing around?

No need for anyone to chase me down the street. I'm always more than happy to sign autographs.

Nice one..

It's clearly stated from more than a few sources in this thread that the bus was overloaded. Would you get on a plane where there was no seating left, but the flight attendants said, don't worry about it, pile on in! Do you want to wait a whole hour before the next flight? Yes, it would be easy to blame the airline (who is also at fault) for one's own stupidity.

What do you think the legal passengers can do about it apart from protest.

I have on several occasions and it was indicated i keep quiet, the only other choice being to leave the bus which is not practical in the middle of a long journey and invariably in the outbacks to nowhere with a family.

The ones seated are the legal paying passengers and you pay more for the VIP services which are supposed to include the aisles being clear and the extra bit of room that goes with it.

I,ve had many an elbow fight with someone on the plastic seat who thinks they are entitled to my arm rest and space.

I,ve also had to push someone off who decided to fall asleep on me, not very nice i can tell you.

Some of them topped up with cheap Thai whiskey ect. and very obnoxious with it.

This has been going on for the last 14 years to my knowledge and well before then, you can bet.

On Ch. 3 this A.M. 11.40 ish it showed officials walking the buses inspecting the seating and emergency exits, surprise, surprise, the aisles were clear and the exits were clear and the doors in working order.

They also kept zooming in on one of those specially made window hammers that are meant to be a standard safety feature in several prominent places on ALL buses. !!!!!????

Me thinks they picked out the best ones for safety and used them for propaganda purposes.

Authorities or whoever you were, You are to late once again in highlighting what should be expected on these buses as standard and i,m sure once again once it calms down a bit you will conveniently forget to keep up these important checks, along with unannounced ones you should be doing during the journeys

When will they ever care enough to stop it all, and they can if they have the desire to do so.

We who have travelled on buses and lived to tell the stories are very lucky indeed, unlike the poor souls who died on this and many other occasions.

Let us hope they now stop where ever it is possible to prevent them.

May they R.I.P. without any further suffering.

Let us not forget the injured some of whom are serious and could die from them, others will suffer horrendously from now until they do, along with their relatives. who have to take care of them, this really is a sad affair.

marshbags

Edited March 22, 2007 by marshbags

[marquess]

I wonder if there is such a thing as corporate Manslaughter in Thailand? If so prosecute the owners and the directors. Then you would soon see standards improve no end!

[Heng]

while you're trying to change the recipe for the pie in the sky

the changes have to come from the top , lead by example and all that.

this has nothing to do with people at "the bottom of the barrel" or "the top of the barrel" , accidents can hit anybody at any time.

this bus could have run into a minibus from a reputable and expensive hire company full of schoolkids from an expensive school , or a convoy of industrialists in a fleet of mercedes benzes , the cause of the accident is the same .

lack of responsibility , passing the buck , no accountability ,

Change, responsibility, and accountability begin in the home. And all that.

Accidents can hit anybody at any time, and often those who are involved are partly responsible... whether a kid grabs the steering wheel in a mini van school bus, the convoy of industrialists are racing, or if people irresponsibly pile onto a bus that is already at capacity.