Four Charges Filed Against Driver in Bus Fire That Killed 23

[webfact]

 

Rescuers gather at the site of a bus that caught fire, carrying young students with their teachers, in suburban Bangkok, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

 

Authorities have filed four charges against the driver of a bus that caught fire on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road, resulting in the deaths of 23 students and teachers. The driver, Mr. Saman, claimed he fled in panic to Ang Thong after the incident.

 

On October 2, 2024, Police Major General Chayanon Meesati, Deputy Commander of Provincial Police Region 1, along with other officials, visited the site to interrogate Mr. Saman.

 

He was transporting students on a field trip when the fire broke out. After a thorough investigation, Mr. Saman voluntarily surrendered to the police at Wichai Chai Police Station in Ang Thong last night (October 1). He was then transferred for further questioning at Khu Khot Police Station in Pathum Thani.

 

Major General Chayanon reported that Mr. Saman claimed he was the second bus in a convoy, driving at a speed of approximately 70-80 km/h. When he reached the accident site, the bus swerved as if hitting a pothole, which caused it to behave as if a tire had blown or the suspension had failed. As a result, the bus collided with a Benz sedan.

In his attempt to regain control, Mr. Saman crashed into a roadside barrier, igniting a fire. Following the incident, he attempted to retrieve a fire extinguisher from the following bus but, overwhelmed by shock, decided to flee to a relative's house in Ang Thong.

 

The initial charges against Mr. Saman include reckless driving endangering life or property, negligent driving resulting in death, negligent driving causing bodily harm, and failing to assist or report the incident leading to fatalities.

 

Major General Chayanon indicated that it is uncertain whether the suspect will be remanded to Thanyaburi Provincial Court today (October 2) due to ongoing investigations. Additionally, authorities are awaiting the results of an inspection of the bus and its gas tank to determine if further charges will be filed against the vehicle's owner, reported Thai PBS.

 

Currently, among the three injured individuals, two—a 7-year-old and a 9-year-old—are in critical condition and have been transferred to Thammasat Chalermprakiat Hospital. A 14-year-old remains hospitalized at Phet Rangsit Hospital.

 

At approximately 8:30 AM today, Khu Khot Police will set up a table at the Police Hospital's Forensic Institute to facilitate questioning the relatives of the deceased.

 

-- 2024-10-02

 

[Tropicalevo]

The whole thing is just very sad. Those poor mites.

Making the bus driver the sacrificial lamb will not add anything.

It is just a distraction to pretend that something is being done.

[watchcat]

58 minutes ago, webfact said:

When he reached the accident site, the bus swerved as if hitting a pothole,

 

I bet it was a soi dog.

[newbee2022]

2 minutes ago, watchcat said:

 

I bet it was a soi dog.

Or his mobile phone...

[retarius]

What to say? Tragic loss of life and a bag of scum driver who runs away to get a fire-extinguisher? What about evacuating the kids first. Hang the bastard. 

[2long]

Everyone is casting accusations, but let's wait to see if/when there's some roadside CCTV, which might give some better info.

Very sad for everyone involved.

[watchcat]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

The driver, Mr. Saman, claimed he fled in panic to Ang Thong after the incident.

 

Worried that the flames get him?

1 hour ago, webfact said:

decided to flee to a relative's house in Ang Thong.

 

Home to mom's plase, under the bed?

[brianthainess]

18 minutes ago, Tropicalevo said:

The whole thing is just very sad. Those poor mites.

Making the bus driver the sacrificial lamb will not add anything.

It is just a distraction to pretend that something is being done.

I agree, looking at that fire, I don't think one extinguisher would have helped, that also brings up the question did his bus have a extinguisher, did he use that one first.

 

[johnnybangkok]

1 minute ago, brianthainess said:

I agree, looking at that fire, I don't think one extinguisher would have helped, that also brings up the question did his bus have a extinguisher, did he use that one first.

 

Irrespective of whether he could/couldn't help, once he 'decided to flee to a relative's house in Ang Thong.' a very large book is going to land on him from a very large height.

How could you run away when those poor kids are still trapped inside the bus? Beggars belief. 

[Will B Good]

 

 

I guess there is just a chance he is telling the truth........it is hard to see how this will progress through the courts if he continues to claim a tyre burst, for whatever reason, and no one can prove otherwise.

 

If he was negligent, drunk, on his phone, falling asleep, I hope he rots in hell. 

[brianthainess]

43 minutes ago, retarius said:

What to say? Tragic loss of life and a bag of scum driver who runs away to get a fire-extinguisher? What about evacuating the kids first. Hang the bastard. 

What about the teachers surely they should have evacuated the kids or did they try ?

Seems the fire took control very quickly so maybe it was impossible to save anyone.

Was there a crush for the doors ? horrible way to die. RIP to those who died.

Edited 22 minutes ago by brianthainess

[KhunLA]

Actually the driver's version sounds very believable.  If lost control and couldn't come to a rolling stop, think I'd be thinking about hitting something to slow down or stop with.

 

Unfortunately, that put the bus doors against the wall, and possible trapped the folks in side, depending how the doors actually operated.

 

Would think the following bus would have had a dash cam, hopefully.  If open road, can't see any CCTV being available, unless very lucky.

 

Just need to figure out why he lost control, and what actually ignited the fire.   Could negate 3 of the charges.

[brianthainess]

I guess we might find out more, once those that survived, may be able to shed some more light on what happened. 

[brianthainess]

3 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

 

Unfortunately, that put the bus doors against the wall, and possible trapped the folks in side, depending how the doors actually operated.

You are wrong Both doors are on the left and were open, the Bangkok Post Show a vid of the bus burning. They would have had to go down flights of stairs, one at the front down by the driver, and one in the middle of the bus. 

[brianthainess]

This also raises the question why do public transport buses have such flammable interiors ? 

[actonion]

53 minutes ago, watchcat said:

 

I bet it was a soi dog.

Or Drunk, Drugs,  Alcohol, Sleep,   to name just a few could have's

[redwood1]

It sounds like the driver did his best to help.....Then ran away....He only had minutes till the bus was fully inflamed.....Could anyone here have done better after the fire started?

[tomazbodner]

19 minutes ago, brianthainess said:

This also raises the question why do public transport buses have such flammable interiors ? 

Maybe gas was leaking for a long time and was already in the interior of the bus, just awaiting for the spark... When you look at the bus itself front and back it was barely damaged. So any leaky gas tanks or pipes are not terribly likely to happen during the accident, but this was just an accident waiting to happen due to shoddy maintenance and probably original work.

There were another group of students on same bus a day or 2 earlier, who complained of faul smell inside the bus. I guess they were lucky ones.