Tour Bus Crashes into Lorry: 17 Injured as Driver Admits to Picking Up Mobile Phone

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture from responders.

 

A tourist bus carrying 43 international passengers collided with a lorry transporting rubber sheets on the Asia Highway 41 in Chumphon province early morning on December 30, leaving 17 injured. The incident occurred at around 04:00 near the Wat Phangun curve in Sawi district.

 

According to police reports, the double-decker bus, which was chartered to transport foreign tourists from Bangkok’s Khaosan Road to Surat Thani, crashed into the lorry when the 71-year-old Thai driver admitted to bending down to retrieve his mobile phone.

 

Emergency services, led by Police Lieutenant Kriengsak Wetchateng and local rescue teams, rushed to the scene. The injured passengers, including tourists from New Zealand, the United States, Spain, Hungary, France, England, and Israel, were transported to three hospitals in the area. Eleven were treated at Sawi Hospital, four at Thung Tako Hospital, and two at Chumphon Hospital.

 

Passengers with minor injuries or those unhurt were provided temporary shelter at the “Ruanjai Unairak” Community Centre near the Sawi District Office. Local officials and police tourism units ensured they received food, water, and necessary support.

 

The driver of the bus and the lorry involved have been detained for questioning by the Sawi Police Station. Preliminary investigations suggest negligence on the part of the bus driver as the likely cause of the crash.

 

A Myanmar national employed as a bus attendant was reported missing after the crash and is currently being sought by authorities.

 

-- 2024-12-30

 

[ikke1959]

Soft power to attrack tourists.. Thailand the hub of safe travel for tourism.... Last months it is terrible how many busses with tourists are having an accident... And the Government promised more safety and checking

[KannikaP]

Driver was 71 years old and using his phone at 4am. Explains it all

[bkk6060]

It is all about speed and phones here.  Surprised he did not use the biggest lie of brake failure 

[Phantom57]

Time 0400, 71 years old, suspect nod off,  not phone.

[Will B Good]

3 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

the 71-year-old Thai driver admitted to bending down to retrieve his mobile phone.

 

FFS

[roo860]

4 minutes ago, Phantom57 said:

Time 0400, 71 years old, suspect nod off,  not phone.

Sounds about right 

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

According to police reports, the double-decker bus, which was chartered to transport foreign tourists from Bangkok’s Khaosan Road to Surat Thani, crashed into the lorry when the 71-year-old Thai driver admitted to bending down to retrieve his mobile phone.

Safety last.... 71 year old driving a tour bus with international tourists from Bangkok to Surat thani overnight.

Go Thailand.

[AustinRacing]

1 hour ago, Phantom57 said:

Time 0400, 71 years old, suspect nod off,  not phone.

….to add, after nodding off the phone fell out of his hand, woke him up, bent over to pick it up, boom. 

[Tropicalevo]

3 hours ago, KannikaP said:

Driver was 71 years old and using his phone at 4am. Explains it all

 

1 hour ago, Phantom57 said:

Time 0400, 71 years old, suspect nod off,  not phone.

 

48 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Safety last.... 71 year old driving a tour bus with international tourists from Bangkok to Surat thani overnight.

Go Thailand.

 

A lot of comments about the driver's age.

I drove from Bangkok to Suratthani when I was that young.

I had no accidents and didn't nod off.

I never look at my phone when driving either.

This driver crashed because he took his eyes off the road.

[digger70]

Tour Bus Crashes into Lorry: 17 Injured as Driver Admits to Picking Up Mobile Phone.

 

Big mistake ,I never Answer my phone while driving 

Isn't that suppose to be Illegal to be on the phone  while  driving?.

Book the Geriatric old driver and Jail him.

[black tabby12345]

8 hours ago, KannikaP said:

Driver was 71 years old and using his phone at 4am. Explains it all

 

Human capabilities are said to be lowest toward the dawn.

Age, fatigue, absence of mind.

Perfect Fatality Triangle.

 

[hotchilli]

15 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

 

 

 

A lot of comments about the driver's age.

I drove from Bangkok to Suratthani when I was that young.

I had no accidents and didn't nod off.

I never look at my phone when driving either.

This driver crashed because he took his eyes off the road.

He should be retired.

[Luuk Chaai]

15 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

 

 

 

A lot of comments about the driver's age.

I drove from Bangkok to Suratthani when I was that young.

I had no accidents and didn't nod off.

I never look at my phone when driving either.

This driver crashed because he took his eyes off the road.

 

...caused by ,,,,, ???    nodding off ?   bending down to pick up a phone that should have never been in the equation ?

ya-ba wore off ? 

remember this line ....  "Flounder, you can't spend your whole life worrying about your mistakes! You fxcked up."

[Jim Blue]

Am I the only one who noticed the chat time Bkk/Pat/Bkk blue bus drivers spend on the phone ?My record is 20 mins .

[watchcat]

On 12/30/2024 at 10:34 PM, hotchilli said:

He should be retired.

 

Couldn't afford a retirement ?

[hotchilli]

On 12/30/2024 at 2:15 PM, Tropicalevo said:

 

 

 

A lot of comments about the driver's age.

I drove from Bangkok to Suratthani when I was that young.

I had no accidents and didn't nod off.

I never look at my phone when driving either.

This driver crashed because he took his eyes off the road.

And you weren't responsible for the lives of 43 passengers... he was.