Bus Owner Caught Trying to Hide Illegal Gas Cylinders After Deadly Fire

[herfiehandbag]

2 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Omg, how many of these unroadworthy, potential firebombs are on Thailand's roads? 

 

Hundreds if not thousands probably.

The inspection regime, such as it is, is just another example of the utterly cynical, universal penetration of corruption into the countries governance . It is hard to think of any institution, sphere of activity or activity which officialdom engages in which is not rotten.

Edited October 3 by herfiehandbag

[Jonathan Swift]

24 minutes ago, itsari said:

Tampering with evidence , obstruction of jutice ,negligence and perviting the course of justice should be a good start to have the company owners placed in custody until the investigation are complete.

The victims families need to be shown that the authorities are serious .

 

Well, those are the criminal charges in the US and other countries, but do Thai laws mirror them?

[thailand49]

3 hours ago, fondue zoo said:

11 or 6  it would not have mattered, dollars for donuts the installation was substandard every time.

This bunch are not concerned about pride in their work.

 

Anywhere else there would be a class action filed by the parents, and they would be sued out of existence with jail time.

I really hope this is the case but this digging will be as far as it goes in Thailand.

[Elkski]

Public punishment matching what the victims endured.   Sounds like 5 buses can be used for all the crooks involved.  

 

 

[Elkski]

In fact auction off the privilege to light a bus on fire.   I would travel 13 k km to do this if I won. 

[schultzlivgthai]

1 hour ago, neeray said:

If I understand correctly, this is a Mercedes Benz chassis and drive train, but not the coach. If that is so, I'm surprised that MB would allow their decal on the locally-made coach.

From what I read it was a converted Isuzu truck made into a bus, it’s also over 50 years old! The Benz badging was only cosmetic I think. 

[RichardColeman]

Unless the managers of this company are held in prison waiting trial, they will be running across the borders as we discus it !

[2baht]

3 hours ago, it is what it is said:

 

still blaming the driver?

 Even he said "It weren't me" They'll ALL say "It were'nt me"!

[thailand49]

The hot air the so call concern from leaders right now looking for a scrapegoat!

Years ago light was shed on these illegal modifications then height as a untrain driver took a offramp speed too fast the bus overturn.

Inspection by DLT announced so what happen this article noted 

" company been operating 50 years several violations "  

You see these buses modified straight as soon as they leave the factory they are height modified dress up painted illegal lights placed at night look like a rolling Christmas tree blinding other drivers. 

Sadly I see these buses rolling down Hwy 7 from Bangkok with police escorting them illegally modified.

 

That is Thailand!

 

Edited October 4 by thailand49

[Card]

3 hours ago, it is what it is said:

 

still blaming the driver?

Yes, partly. He knew about the illegal tanks, or should have, and ran away 

[ronster]

Crush any buses owned by the company and jail anyone who is to blame for authorizing these modifications being put on the buses or trying to remove them for a minimum of 10 years !

[daveAustin]

1 hour ago, hotchilli said:

Jail the owners and close the company down.. simple.

Indeed, it is manslaughter at the very least. The system routinely hands down decades-long sentences for people with drugs or for certain ‘crimes against the state’. These bastards right here are the real crims! 

[itsari]

5 minutes ago, Jonathan Swift said:

Well, those are the criminal charges in the US and other countries, but do Thai laws mirror them?

Similar principles would appy .

Enforcement is the problem 

Corporate liability could be applied in Thailand as well

[chiang mai]

There is very little risk to anyone who modifies any motor vehicle, because there's no enforcement at any level....just look around at some of the things you see being driven on the roads. Motor bikes with sidecars are illegal, straight through exhausts are illegal, weird brake light arrangements are illegal yet look at how many of these things are seen daily.

 

Until there is effective enforcement, this problem wont go away.

[retarius]

No coaches, minibuses or modified vehicles in my travelling future.

[still kicking]

1 hour ago, Utalk2mutt said:

After such an awful tragedy I will be happy when the driver and the owner are held properly accountable. Running from the incident is absolutely abhorrent cowardly behaviour and then the owner getting caught removing gas cylinders on his other buses (trying to save his neck)just shows he knew that what he was doing was highly illegal in the first place. These two must be sent down for life and life to mean exactly that. Neither deserves any kind of mercy. May all those that have lost their lives RiP.

23 times life in jail.

[roo860]

5 Extra tanks illegally fitted .

[Artisi]

1 hour ago, itsari said:

Tampering with evidence , obstruction of jutice ,negligence and perviting the course of justice should be a good start to have the company owners placed in custody until the investigation are complete.

The victims families need to be shown that the authorities are serious .

 

They are very serious, they're talking about it 😉

[itsari]

1 minute ago, Artisi said:

They are very serious, they're talking about it 😉

Let's hope so.

Thanks for your reply

[ChrisY1]

Anyway...much depends upon the bus company owners connections.....

The real culprits here are the DLT...another totally useless government department!

[Artisi]

30 minutes ago, Card said:

Yes, partly. He knew about the illegal tanks, or should have, and ran away 

Why would he be aware of the illegal tanks, he's supposedly a driver, not a company director or the safety officer. 

The only charges he should be facing is maybe dangerous driving (yet to be establish) and fleeing the scene. 

[hotchilli]

24 minutes ago, daveAustin said:

Indeed, it is manslaughter at the very least. The system routinely hands down decades-long sentences for people with drugs or for certain ‘crimes against the state’. These bastards right here are the real crims! 

Agreed, an example must be made of this company, deliberately exceeding the the gas cylinder capacity, and after the accident trying to retrospectively hide other evidence of the same malpractice in their other coaches.

Hang the bastards high where everyone in the country can see them.

The inspecting officers should also be scrutinised for allowing this to happen.

Roadside checks must become a norm, anywhere these coaches stop for a break, stoop to refuel there must be officers on duty inspecting daily.

Not an annual inspection then owners go refit as they like.

This madness HAS TO STOP

[animalmagic]

2 hours ago, CharlieH said:

And how many others across the country are running around like this ? Sure as hell that won't be the only company doing dodgy deeds that's for sure.

And how many are using the current ban on school trips to bodge another job to try and ensure they pass inspection?  A deeper dive into the ownership of these companies and recent emails and phone calls between DLT officials and the operators should shed some light on the depth of corrupt practices.  

I'm quite surprised that lawyers from Mercedes Benz have not addressed the DLT to stop operators sticking their logo on buses they have no connection with.  Would love to see the contracts offered by the operators on supplying 'Mercedes Benz' vehicles.

[Gandtee]

4 hours ago, it is what it is said:

 

still blaming the driver?

He's an easy target and scapegoat. Let's see immediate action against the coach owners and inspectors.

[WoodyKenny]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Picture from responder

 

Authorities have uncovered attempts by  the company responsible for the bus fire that killed 23 students and teachers in Pathum Thani, to conceal illegal modifications to other buses in its fleet.

 

The Department of Land Transport (DLT) revealed that additional gas cylinders were being secretly removed from five of the company's buses just days after the fatal accident.

 

The tragic fire occurred during a school field trip when an aging bus caught fire, resulting in the deaths of 20 students and three teachers from Uthai Thani.

 

Investigators found that the bus had been improperly converted to run on gas, with far more cylinders than legally permitted. Only six of the 11 cylinders found onboard had been certified by authorities.

 

Following the incident, the DLT ordered the inspection of five other buses in the company's fleet. When the buses failed to show up for inspection, officials tracked them via GPS to a garage in Nakhon Ratchasima, where workers were found removing illegally installed gas cylinders.

 

Jirut Wisanjit, director-general of the DLT, said this clearly showed an intent to hide the illegal modifications.

 

The bus involved in the fire had been in operation for over 50 years and had undergone several unauthorized modifications, which likely contributed to the accident.

 

Police forensic teams confirmed that a gas leak occurred before the fire, though the exact cause of the blaze is still under investigation. Meanwhile, the company's license has been suspended pending further inquiries.

 

-- 2024-10-04

 

God be with the families that lost loves ones and family members.  Sadly this is  Asia.. The same things happens in The Philippines with Trucks and vehicles.

   Because the Police, LDT, Government does NOTHING when it comes to highway safety.. Many alter lights, height, LOADS CARRIED, Passenger limit etc etc etc..  The Failed DLT, LTO and System that has always been in place continues and will continue until it hits home hard... Until then it will never change.. Again...God bless and be with these families...

[simon43]

2 hours ago, neeray said:

If I understand correctly, this is a Mercedes Benz chassis and drive train, but not the coach. If that is so, I'm surprised that MB would allow their decal on the locally-made coach.

I have a locally-bought old Mazda car with a Maserati decal.........

[BangkokReady]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Meanwhile, the coach owner, driver, and the mechanic involved in the improper installations are now subject to questioning to assess their roles in the tragedy.

 

They need to hold everyone that didn't do their job responsible, at every level.  If this happened in a Western country, people would be doing jail time and there would be significant changes to the law and to how things are done.

 

Unfortunately, Thai safety culture caused this, and will likely prevent any meaningful changes from happening.

 

This is actually an interesting addition to the "White culture" thread, where people were saying how much better Thailand is than the West.  Food for thought.

[herfiehandbag]

49 minutes ago, schultzlivgthai said:

From what I read it was a converted Isuzu truck made into a bus, it’s also over 50 years old! The Benz badging was only cosmetic I think. 

Even if Mercedes-Benz were aware of the badges on this bus, I doubt very much whether there is anything they could do, here, to stop it. 

 

I've noticed "uniquely Thai" buses carrying those badges before, and always doubted that they were made by Mercedes.

[BangkokReady]

3 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Omg, how many of these unroadworthy, potential firebombs are on Thailand's roads? 

 

Have you ever been to Thailand?

[Gottfrid]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Following the incident, the DLT ordered the inspection of five other buses in the company's fleet. When the buses failed to show up for inspection, officials tracked them via GPS to a garage in Nakhon Ratchasima, where workers were found removing illegally installed gas cylinders.

 

Jirut Wisanjit, director-general of the DLT, said this clearly showed an intent to hide the illegal modifications.

 

The bus involved in the fire had been in operation for over 50 years and had undergone several unauthorized modifications, which likely contributed to the accident.

The owner should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law, which in this case should be death penalty. However, that will be too easy so better let sit for 20 years before execution. After that they should withdraw the license from everyone who modify anything found during inspection and forever forward plus a 1M baht fine per bus as well as 5 year in jail. That will fix it. 🙂