Thirteen students injured on way home from school - janitor in tatty old truck was behind the wheel

[webfact]

Daily News Thai Caption: Wheels pointing skywards

 

Daily News reported on a nasty accident involving a faulty old truck with a school janitor behind the wheel.

 

ASEAN NOW asks today: Is this the level of care that innocent school children can expect in Thailand?

 

Thirteen students on their way home were taken to hospital after it overturned in the North East.

 

Pol Capt Karun Jandork along with medics and Wang Krut Rescue were on the scene on the Satuek to Sanamchai Road. 

 

They found the six wheel Isuzu overturned in the undergrowth. 

 

Picture: Daily News

 

The desperate and anguished cries of the children could be heard coming from the battered old truck.

 

It was clearly completely unroadworthy. 

 

All the children wanted to do was get home and get on with their homework.

 

Instead it was a trip to Sateuk Hospital for the four boys and 9 girls of Som Samed Withaya school in Buriram.

 

Picture: Picture: Daily News

 

School janitor Kingkaew Phimin, 51, said his front axle fell off and he lost control of the wheels. 

 

He had the temerity to say it was "lucky" he wasn't going fast and the children were not badly hurt.

 

Police charged him with negligent driving and took the truck into evidence. 

 

But today we ask, is this the best that the nation's children can expect from those who should protect them?

 

Who is responsible for the maintenance of the truck?

 

The janitor? The director? 

 

Who will pay the price for what happens to innocent kids on their way to and from school?

 

A scapegoat? Or those higher up?

 

Or the whole rotten system that almost daily lets down children being driven by incompetent drivers in unsuitable and old vehicles. 

 

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[Dmaxdan]

10 minutes ago, webfact said:

ASEAN NOW asks today: Is this the level of care that innocent school children can expect in Thailand?

The parents don't know any different. Nearly everyone is completely ignorant when it comes to any form of road safety.

Nobody cares about prevention of accidents, but they are very quick to point the finger when it all goes horribly wrong.  

[toofarnorth]

It is certainly a very bad situation but if I related this story to those back home I think they would laugh.

' .......................his front axle fell off and he lost control of the wheels '.

.........................lucky he wasn't going fast .  Yeah , I reckon.

[steven100]

22 minutes ago, webfact said:

said his front axle fell off

yes ,   that'll  always cause a problem 

[trainman34014]

Many of these Trucks around the country are unroadworthy but ask any School Director or Teacher how much they know or care about anything Mechanical.    Come to that; ask them how much they care about the safety of the Kids in their 'care' ?    Majority will point to it being someone else's responsibility !

[swm59nj]

Just another normal day in the LOS 

[Tropposurfer]

Pretty difficult to have anything else but old decrepit, overloaded transport when your dirt poor.

Come on all you rich expats, how about buying and sponsoring some small commuter bus/vans for the local schools around your areas. God knows the government aint' gunna help.

[Bangkok Barry]

On 6/9/2022 at 9:32 AM, webfact said:

ASEAN NOW asks today: Is this the level of care that innocent school children can expect in Thailand?

Yes. And my wife was on a school 'bus' that overturned, with one student dying and another losing his legs. And that was 50 years ago. Nothing changes and nothing ever will. In Thai minds it was just unlucky and meant to happen, which totally excuses them of any responsibility.

Edited June 10, 2022 by Bangkok Barry

[2long]

While we like to sit here and bitch about the age and state of the vehicle and the 'status' of the driver, who's to know about the study fees for this school. Was it a temple school where the (probably sober and kind-hearted) janitor was happy to ferry the kids back and forth in the best vehicle available.

Not every school in this part of the world has the income to afford 'proper' drivers and vehicles.

[klauskunkel]

 

But today we ask, is this the best that the nation's children can expect from those who should protect them?

A: And today's answer is the same as it has always been - Yes.

 

Who is responsible for the maintenance of the truck?

A: We don't like foreign words with many letters in it.

 

Who will pay the price for what happens to innocent kids on their way to and from school?

A: A rhetorical question. How refreshing...

[hotchilli]

On 6/9/2022 at 9:32 AM, webfact said:

Or the whole rotten system that almost daily lets down children being driven by incompetent drivers in unsuitable and old vehicles

Welcome to Thailand.

Lives are cheap new vehicles are expensive.

[richard_smith237]

On 6/9/2022 at 5:48 AM, Dmaxdan said:

Nobody cares about prevention of accidents, but they are very quick to point the finger when it all goes horribly wrong.  

That sums up a lot of Thailand.... 

 

People who proactively think are trouble makers and accused of ‘thinking too much’...

Consequently, society is wired not to be proactive.

 

Thailand is partially reactive society...  Events, are re-acted to with opinion, but thats as far as it goes. 

There may be a temporary ‘crack-down’ and an announcement from a politician if it gains enough media attention to embarrass, an awful lot gets swept under-neath the rugs. 

 

Thailand - the ‘Hub of S#it swept under the rug’ !!! 

[PETERTHEEATER]

On 6/9/2022 at 3:32 AM, webfact said:

It was clearly completely unroadworth

Based on what technical assessment? Don't  have one? Then that's an assumption.......

[richard_smith237]

Just now, PETERTHEEATER said:

Based on what technical assessment? Don't  have one? Then that's an assumption.......

And thats just a stupid comment....   

 

Do you look at a lorry crabbing down the road and believe its road worthy until a technical assessment proves otherwise....??

 

 

When a vehicle isn’t road worthy is quite obvious to many of us.

Many vehicles in Thailand are not roadworthy and this is the cause of many accidents and deaths, i.e. bald tires in the rain, worn brakes, faulty brakes, broken lights etc etc... 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Liverpool Lou]

On 6/9/2022 at 9:32 AM, webfact said:

But today we ask, is this the best that the nation's children can expect from those who should protect them?

Can't imagine why anyone would ask that.   Where has it been suggested that what happened "is the best that Thailand's children can expect from those who should protect them"?   It was a one-off accident.

[Liverpool Lou]

On 6/9/2022 at 9:32 AM, webfact said:

School janitor Kingkaew Phimin, 51, said his front axle fell off and he lost control of the wheels. 

No, he did not say that "the front axle fell off".  He said that a steering rod became detached resulting in no steering.

[Liverpool Lou]

 

 

On 6/9/2022 at 9:55 AM, steven100 said:

On 6/9/2022 at 9:32 AM, webfact said:

said his front axle fell off

yes ,   that'll  always cause a problem 

Unfortunately that didn't happen neither did he say that!   There's a link with the real explanation.

Edited June 10, 2022 by Liverpool Lou

[Liverpool Lou]

On 6/9/2022 at 9:32 AM, webfact said:

...his front axle fell off...

Even thought the photo accompanying the article clearly shows the front axle in situ!

[JeffersLos]

Things like maintenance, training and obeying traffic laws are so inconvenient. 

 

Thais don't like inconvenience when convenience is equally available. 

[JeffersLos]

On 6/9/2022 at 9:32 AM, webfact said:

the six wheel Isuzu

I count 4 wheels. 

[scorecard]

On 6/9/2022 at 9:55 AM, steven100 said:

yes ,   that'll  always cause a problem 

Well at least brake failure had a reprive on this occasion. 

[peter zwart]

On 6/9/2022 at 9:32 AM, webfact said:

Or the whole rotten system that almost daily lets down children being driven by incompetent drivers in unsuitable and old vehicles. 

And people that only go for some money. They would even sell their own mother. I had my kids on a so called private school. The buses were so old that I decided to pick them up and bring them myself. But still had to pay for the whole year. During the lunch break, meals were sold by the director's sister. If small children bought something for 15 baht and paid with 20 baht, the 5 baht change was not given. They were told to just keep walking. Even stealing from small children does not go too far. I am generally very positive about Thailand but this was quite a disappointment in the behavior of these eager Thais.

[welshissan]

2 hours ago, 2long said:

While we like to sit here and bitch about the age and state of the vehicle and the 'status' of the driver, who's to know about the study fees for this school. Was it a temple school where the (probably sober and kind-hearted) janitor was happy to ferry the kids back and forth in the best vehicle available.

Not every school in this part of the world has the income to afford 'proper' drivers and vehicles.

I don't know of any school around here, Satuek, that have their own vehicles or drivers. We either took our own children to school or paid for them to catch transport

[PETERTHEEATER]

44 minutes ago, JeffersLos said:

I count 4 wheels. 

Four wheels are visible in the photograph. The front wheels are cunningly hidden under the bush.....

[JeffersLos]

8 hours ago, PETERTHEEATER said:

Four wheels are visible in the photograph. The front wheels are cunningly hidden under the bush.....

There are 6 tires on 4 wheels visible in the photo.  

 

Are you saying this truck had 6 wheels and 8 tires?

[Andycoops]

I see it everyday here in Isaan, overloaded pickups with the rear bumper almost scraping the road, kids sitting on the roof, not to mention some of the rust buckets.

And all pulling up in front of the school gates with the police looking on.

Imagine the carnage if one of those trucks with several kids on the roof had to break hard or swerved off the road.

Amazing Thailand, taking care of their children.

[AhFarangJa]

15 hours ago, JeffersLos said:

I count 4 wheels. 

Methinks those pretty girls in Top Charoen can help you. Clearly four at the back, two in front, or is it four in front and two in back........

[Excel]

1 hour ago, Andycoops said:

I see it everyday here in Isaan, overloaded pickups with the rear bumper almost scraping the road, kids sitting on the roof, not to mention some of the rust buckets.

And all pulling up in front of the school gates with the police looking on.

Imagine the carnage if one of those trucks with several kids on the roof had to break hard or swerved off the road.

Amazing Thailand, taking care of their children.

Well I have to admit that whilst seeing overload vehicles transporting children I have never ever seen children sitting on the roof  and I have lived here donkeys years. 

 

Are you sure you were not looking at some Indian movie as it it common practice there ????

[brianthainess]

17 hours ago, PETERTHEEATER said:

Based on what technical assessment? Don't  have one? Then that's an assumption.......

The front axle fell off ! in fact it was the steering rod,  that doesn't need a technical assessment and 'nor is it an assumption. In a normal country steering is checked, but i have seen many vehicle testing here, not even a simple rocking of steering, while someone looks underneath for play in the ball joints, as with trucks brake testing with no load applied.

Edited June 11, 2022 by brianthainess

[BangkokReady]

On 6/9/2022 at 9:32 AM, webfact said:

ASEAN NOW asks today: Is this the level of care that innocent school children can expect in Thailand?

ASEAN NOW readers ask: Has ASEAN NOW ever been to Thailand?