Scores of Russians Injured in Bus Crash At Pattaya Toll Booth

[webfact]

Picture courtesy: AMARIN TV

 

On the evening of January 2, a bus transporting 37 Russian tourists to Pattaya lost control and crashed into a Toyota Fortuner SUV at the Pong toll booth, resulting in 27 passengers sustaining injuries, as reported by Amarin TV.

 

Witnesses described how the bus unexpectedly changed lanes and struck the stationary SUV, which was waiting in line at the toll booth. The force of the collision caused serious damage to both vehicles, with the bus suffering significant front-end damage and the SUV's rear end being heavily crushed.

 

Emergency responders arrived promptly at the scene, providing immediate medical assistance to the injured tourists. The 27 passengers were swiftly transferred to hospitals in Pattaya for further treatment, with reports indicating that while none of the injuries appeared to be life-threatening, several tourists had suffered broken bones and other serious injuries.

The 10 uninjured passengers were quickly gathered and transported to their hotel in Pattaya in a van arranged by the tour company.

 

Local police and emergency services worked to clear the wreckage and restore order to the busy highway. Traffic in the area was temporarily disrupted as officers closed lanes and directed vehicles away from the scene to prevent additional accidents. The toll booth, a frequently used section of the road, experienced delays as authorities worked to manage the situation.

 

Picture courtesy: AMARIN TV

 

Preliminary investigations suggest that the bus may have lost control due to excessive speed or abrupt maneuvers, but authorities have yet to confirm the exact cause of the crash. An ongoing investigation is expected to provide more clarity in the coming days, reported Thai Newsroom.

 

The incident has raised concerns about road safety, especially for tourists, and local officials have pledged to review safety measures and improve oversight of tourist transport services to reduce the risk of similar accidents in the future.

 

With the number of tourists visiting Thailand on the rise, accidents like this highlight the ongoing challenges related to road safety in high-traffic tourist areas. Authorities have urged both residents and visitors to remain cautious on the roads and to be mindful of their safety, particularly in congested regions near popular destinations.

 

Picture courtesy: AMARIN TV

 

-- 2025-01-03

 

 

 

[HappyExpat57]

3 minutes ago, webfact said:

the bus made an unexpected lane change

 

4 minutes ago, webfact said:

prompted discussions on the importance of rigorous safety checks and adherence to road regulations

EVERYONE knows what the problem is - untrained/uncaring drivers. Until that inconvenient truth is honestly addressed, this will be a regular occurence.

[roo860]

'The incident has raised concerns about road safety, especially for tourists, and local officials have pledged to review safety measures and improve oversight of tourist transport services to reduce the risk of similar accidents in the future '

 

And improve the standard of morons driving them.🤔

[harleyclarkey]

Just another ill trained, incompetent, dangerous ddriver.A miracle nobody was killed. 

The low level of drivers in Thailand is baffling....and nobody is doing a darn thing about it. 

[Ralf001]

That bus was coming in way too hot, no chance of making it through SUV or no SUV.

[roo860]

According to another news outlet the driver was 74yrs old.

[riverhigh]

"Preliminary investigations suggest that the bus may have lost control due to excessive speed or abrupt maneuvers"

 

Excessive Speed!! No kidding!! Understatement of the year 2025!!

 

Same old, same old Thai bulls&$t driving.  This goes well beyond lack of bus driver training. This ia a Thai cultural problem. After looking at the video it was very fortunate for all concern that no one got killed.

[hotchilli]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Preliminary investigations suggest that the bus may have lost control due to excessive speed or abrupt maneuvers, but authorities have yet to confirm the exact cause of the crash.

Normal for Thailand, the video proves it beyond any doubt

[jacko45k]

26 minutes ago, riverhigh said:

"Preliminary investigations suggest that the bus may have lost control due to excessive speed or abrupt maneuvers"

 

Excessive Speed!! No kidding!! Understatement of the year 2025!!

Heaven knows.... 

I only expect he was familiar with the road as tour buses use that area so often...ie he knew the toll booths were there......and he needed to slow down. Nodded off, hungover from last nights celebrations, not focused on his driving... one can only be glad the bus did not burst into flames.

[cardinalblue]

Can’t cure stupidity….driving behaviors won’t change….gov doesn’t have the mentality/desire to modify behavior 

[SiSePuede419]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Witnesses described how the bus unexpectedly changed lanes and struck the stationary SUV

Probably not the first time a Thai got rear-ended by 37 Russians in Pattaya, ammirite. 😄

[soalbundy]

He stopped in the end though, got to give him that.

[Jim Blue]

57 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

Heaven knows.... 

I only expect he was familiar with the road as tour buses use that area so often...ie he knew the toll booths were there......and he needed to slow down. Nodded off, hungover from last nights celebrations, not focused on his driving... one can only be glad the bus did not burst into flames.

³

[Jim Blue]

His wife phoned him !

[mdr224]

For going out on the roads, you have to consider any day your last day, no matter how good a driver you are. Thai people, civil in person, get behind a wheel and turn into animals

[1happykamper]

One more idiot in charge of lots of lives. 

 

My guess is he fell asleep. 

[klauskunkel]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

a bus lost control and crashed

the bus may have lost control due to excessive speed or abrupt maneuvers

The incident has raised concerns

The incident has raised concerns about the general state of mind of buses and an ad hoc panel suggested a psychiatric evaluation of the bus to determine the reason it lost control...

[mdr224]

3 minutes ago, klauskunkel said:

The incident has raised concerns about the general state of mind of buses and an ad hoc panel suggested a psychiatric evaluation of the bus to determine the reason it lost control...

Thailands workforce isnt paid enough to care about peoples lives

[ronster]

Really didn't want to pay the toll did he !

[jacko45k]

1 minute ago, ronster said:

Really didn't want to pay the toll did he !

The irony is, I think the booths were not in operation as usually they make them free during major holidays. (Probably because nobody will turn up for work anyhow!)

[Elkski]

Wow I'm walking everywhere next trip 

[mikebell]

A police force that clamped down on speeding every day in 2025 might cut the death toll.

[KannikaP]

1 hour ago, 1happykamper said:

One more idiot in charge of lots of lives. 

 

My guess is he fell asleep. 

Wrong. The lane he was in was coned off, so he tried to make it into the left hand lane, then BANG!

[topt]

9 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

The irony is, I think the booths were not in operation as usually they make them free during major holidays. (Probably because nobody will turn up for work anyhow!)

You can even see the sign saying Free in English in the 3rd picture down in the OP. 

 

Initially I wondered why the SUV had been stationary

4 hours ago, webfact said:

and struck the stationary SUV, which was waiting in line at the toll booth.

But the video shows it just slowing behind another.

[SAFETY FIRST]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

a bus transporting 37 Russian tourists

Scores of Russians Injured

More like dozens injured 

 

[MalcolmB]

2 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Normal for Thailand, the video proves it beyond any doubt

I have been on a few buses in Thailand, and have never had any of these “normal” experiences.

How about you? 
 

If was a normal occurrence why has it been reported.

I drive past buses everyday and never seen it.

 

i have told you a million times before to strop exaggerating.

 

74 year old driver might have had a medical episode.

[MalcolmB]

11 minutes ago, mikebell said:

A police force that clamped down on speeding every day in 2025 might cut the death toll.

I think telling car manufacturers that they can only make cars as fast as the speed limit would have a greater effect.

Most cars can go over 200kmh. 
Why build them?

[Cliffo]

Inattention, sleep, medical issue, no brakes, not paying attention and thought he'd go through the blue M-pass entry but couldn't? Many possibilities. 

[jacko45k]

Just now, MalcolmB said:

74 year old driver might have had a medical episode

When I board a bus to or from Ekamai, I am usually pleased to see a more mature driver,  in the hope he will be focused, patient,  and and have an even temperament, as opposed to some adolescent and testosterone fueled youngster, who will usually  get a job white knuckled driving a minibus.  Mind you, I am not 74 yet and nothing can stop me dozing off after my lunch!

[LennyW]

He was heading flat out for a lane that was closed, looks like he did not see it the red X, and tried to swerve into a lane that was open, but way too late and way too fast - no chance!!. Injured passengers on the bus, in the cars he ploughed into and the motorway staff that were directing people through, he just ruined so many peoples day!!!