Eleven people were killed and one injured when a passenger van drove into a roadside ditch and caught fire on the Friendship Highway in Sikhio district of Thailand’s north-eastern province of Nakhon Ratchasima on Saturday night.

 

The only survivor, who managed to escape from the burning van, told Si Khieu district police that he boarded the van in Amnat Charoen, heading to Nakhon Pathom, and that there were 12 passengers, including himself, on board.

 

 

He said he did not know what happened because he was sleeping and woke up as the van was plunging into the ditch.

 

Emergency services extinguished the fire and took the injured, as well as the 11 charred bodies, to the district hospital.

 

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/11-die-one-injured-in-road-accident-in-nakhon-ratchasima-province/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2023-01-23

 

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Fiery death of 11 in LNG-powered passenger van travelling at speed just before it crashed in flames
by News Desk

 

The scene on Saturday night in the Si Khiu district of Nakhon Ratchasima on the Mittraphap highway after rescue workers brought the blaze in the passenger van under control. (Inset) CCTV footage captures the moment that 20-year-old Mr Thanachit Kingkaew emerged from the blazing wreck with relatively minor injuries.

Authorities in Nakhon Ratchasima are carrying out autopsies on the remains of 11 people including two children burned to death in a horrific accident on Saturday night involving a passenger van travelling at speed which appeared to veer out of control, crash into guardrails and explode into flames.

The horrific death of 11 people including two children in a crash involving a passenger van that lost control in the northeast province of Nakhon Ratchasima on Saturday again raises questions about the dangers of this particular mode of transport, especially when powered by LNG gas tanks. There are also questions about the speed the vehicle was travelling at as police in Korat have opened an investigation. One of the passengers, a 20-year-old man, amazingly, ran free from the exploding wreck.

 

11 people died in a fiery explosion in Nakhon Ratchasima province on Saturday night when a passenger van carrying 12 people exploded in a ball of flames on a busy motorway while travelling at speed.

 

Full story: https://www.thaiexaminer.com/thai-news-foreigners/2023/01/22/fiery-death-of-11-in-lng-fuelled-mini-van-nakhon-ratchasima/

 

-- © Copyright Thai Examiner 2023-01-23

 

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30 minutes ago, webfact said:

He said he did not know what happened because he was sleeping

Sad story. ????

 

I reckon the driver was probably sleeping too.

We don't know what happened. But it was unlikely it happened from a blown tire or a faulty van. It was most likely either driver error, driver inattention or recklessness, driving too fast, or it was caused by another crazy driver. The highways here are insane and beyond dangerous. The skill set of the average driver is not impressive.

 

One has to feel for all the families that will be impacted by what may turn out to be a senseless and avoidable tragedy. I use mini vans as infrequently as I have to, and have felt like asking a driver to just stop and let me off, on many occasions, when they are tailgating or driving mindlessly. May do just that in the future. Not worth the risk of death. 

Hmmm…. I wonder how many times this scenario has played out over the years? I wonder if something should be done to reduce this happening? Silly thought, TIT

When is the government going to wake up and regulate this business?

Ten people died in a shooting in the US and that is worldwide news. The numbers that die on Thai roads is not.

An "accident", I doubt it. Negligence of one type or another is far more likely. Stoned, drunk or overworked tired and/or hyped driver or a lack of mechanical maintenance is usually the case.

RIP to those who died a horrible death and condolences to family and friends.

Those minibuses are coffins on wheels, I'd never go in one now

2 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

We don't know what happened. But it was unlikely it happened from a blown tire or a faulty van. It was most likely either driver error, driver inattention or recklessness, driving too fast, or it was caused by another crazy driver. The highways here are insane and beyond dangerous. The skill set of the average driver is not impressive.

 

One has to feel for all the families that will be impacted by what may turn out to be a senseless and avoidable tragedy. I use mini vans as infrequently as I have to, and have felt like asking a driver to just stop and let me off, on many occasions, when they are tailgating or driving mindlessly. May do just that in the future. Not worth the risk of death. 

I'm not sure it's about physical driving skills which are generally good in Thailand. In my opinion it's more about lack of concentration, tiredness leading to sleep, drink and drugs.

It seems to be open day for making assumptions about what happened.

 

Whatever the driver did or didn't do, you have to question the safety of road conditions and the vehicle when a rash results in explosion and this amount of damage to the vehicle.

Something were done about it

the death trap coffin vans were supposed to be replaced with 22 seater minibus but after much protest from existing operator they were allowed to continue

48 minutes ago, bbbbooboo said:

Hmmm…. I wonder how many times this scenario has played out over the years? I wonder if something should be done to reduce this happening? Silly thought, TIT

Nobody will do anything n life goes on. This is the hallmark of either n uneducated society or a society that does everything only for money. There is no money in doing anything for traffic accidents…so the lifes will continue to be sacrificed because life is cheap in Thailand. 

Very very sad but it will not be the last. Rest in piece to all those who died and condolences to all their families.

47 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

Those minibuses are coffins on wheels, I'd never go in one now

Day in, say out, I see the way they drive completely full with kids in them on the way to school, driving way over the speed limit, overtaking etc, I dread the day.

 

RIP

 

EDIT: As we all know the police force here is (&^%^$, and unless they put up speed cameras everywhere and get agencies to enforce suspending licenses and providing heavy fines, jail times for those who think they can do what they want, nothing will change, countless lives will pass due to the government and it's agencies failing to protect it's citizen's.

 

Last time I went on one of those death traps was over 10 years ago.  The driver was doing 160kph along the raised part of Bangna-Trat.  A week later, 6 were killed in a crash on the same section of road in one of those rockets, and I vowed never again would I get in one; probably why I'm still alive in the Land of Smashes.   

RIP to all. Like everyone else I am not surprised.

 

 

 

 

 

 

May the 11 RIP.

Took one of these buses way back in 2008 from BKK to Hua Hin.

 

A few months later, [and many times therefter] a horrific crash involving one of these mini-vans igniting & killing all on board.

 

Never again, would I have used one of these mini-vans for transportation.

 

RIP to all involved, just tragic.

Absolutely shocking.

 

I have to say those vans are usually speeding well above the limit on my local dual carriageway here in Isaan.

Twice in Bangkok I've been in a taxi where the driver has fallen asleep during a red light.

Many drivers work multiple shifts to make any money.  

RIP those poor people.  It's not the first and it won't be the last. Very, very sad.

Amazingly, in Thailand, unlike advanced countries, you do not need a special driving licence to carry paid passengers.

Common sense goes out the window when you come to LOS.   WE all know how dangerous it is.....told every day....but then we eagerly get in the cheapest bus to travel, sometimes overnight.   Thais, on the other hand, are usually much more limited financially and cannot chose like we can.

 

If you only travel a few times a year, maybe take a plane.   sure, it's more expensive, but better odds you will live.

 

luckily, I haven't been in an overnight van for about 6 years.  

1 hour ago, Thingamabob said:

I'm not sure it's about physical driving skills which are generally good in Thailand. In my opinion it's more about lack of concentration, tiredness leading to sleep, drink and drugs.

The problems are cognitive (learning/obeying rules) and attitude (aggressive and selfish)

1 hour ago, Thingamabob said:

I'm not sure it's about physical driving skills which are generally good in Thailand. 

Not so sure about that, 

 

R.I.P and condolences to the families'.

Will all be forgotten next week.

 

ust, yet another reminder to not go with van drivers in Thailand. Their reputation exceeds them.

5 hours ago, webfact said:

He said he did not know what happened because he was sleeping and woke up as the van was plunging into the ditch

Same as the suicide jockey driver.

2 hours ago, thaikahuna said:

When is the government going to wake up and regulate this business?

Never.