Phuket Tourist Bus Plunges 20 Metres Down Ravine, Several Injured

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture from responders.

 

A tourist bus on 1 February, plunged approximately 20 metres down a hillside ravine, off the Karon Hill road in Phuket, leaving seven injured foreign tourists in need of urgent medical attention.

 

At 13:10 local time, emergency services received reports of the incident near Karon Nui Soi, Karon Subdistrict, in the Muang District of Phuket. The authorities quickly mobilised rescue teams, including high-level medical responders from Patong Hospital, local medics, and several emergency units from the Phuket Kusontham Foundation.

 

Upon arrival, emergency teams found the tourist bus had veered off the road and tumbled into the ditch. The scene showed signs of damage to the metal barriers along the roadside, with visible evidence of the bus having struck and destroyed the crash barriers over a significant stretch.

 

 

Nine individuals who had sustained injuries were swiftly transported to Patong Hospital for further treatment. There were 5 males and 4 females and were reported to be 4 Chinese tourists, 1 German, 2 Russians, 1 Thai woman, and 1 driver (later identified as Mr. Wira, aged 49).

 

 

The cause of the crash is still under investigation, as authorities continue to gather evidence at the scene.
 

Initial reports from dash-cam footage, suggests the bus driver was travelling at speed when he lost control, causing the bus to swerve, striking the crash barrier and then crashing through it and plunging into the ravine.

 

-- 2025-02-02

 

 

 

[watchcat]

1 hour ago, Georgealbert said:

The cause of the crash is still under investigation

 

No brakes?

[dslocum]

What does "at speed" mean ???  

[watchcat]

8 minutes ago, dslocum said:

What does "at speed" mean ???  

 

Faster than standing still.

[smew]

Quality maintenance no doubt 

[Mywayboy]

Normal Thai driving excessive speed & no idea how too drive.

Buffalo & Cart more suitable for them.

[hotchilli]

Another case of driver error.

[Captor]

33 minutes ago, smew said:

Quality maintenance no doubt 

I wonder if original brake pads and other spare parts are used or cheap and ineffective copies? There is a huge production in certain countries (ex. Turkey) for copies. Especially brake pads that are not upto correct stadard.

[watchcat]

40 minutes ago, Mywayboy said:

Normal Thai driving excessive speed & no idea how too drive.

Buffalo & Cart more suitable for them.

 

I think you're spot on wiith this.

[klauskunkel]

1 hour ago, Mywayboy said:

Normal Thai driving excessive speed & no idea how too drive.

Buffalo & Cart more suitable for them.

[Theforgotten1]

Thais the greatest drivers in the world, I’ve been told that so many times , they are just unfortunate that the roads are not inline with them 

[LivingNThailand]

Another newspaper said it may be caused by slippery road conditions.  Huh?  It hasn't rained here in 3-4 weeks.   

[steven100]

speeding again of coarse .....    that's what caused the accident. 

[kuzmabruk]

self driving buses are being tested in South Korea, China, North America and Europe.  They are the only solution to all problems in Thailand.  send all truck drivers, bus drivers, and taxi drivers back to the farm to live with grandma.  It only a few years away (3-5) in China and other asian countries - hope that is also true in Thailand.  even if you disabled all but one of the cameras, the current self driving vehicles are 100 times better than the best driver in Thailand.

[Dave0206]

We never see any follow ups regarding penalties for drivers who have caused these accidents especially when psv or hgv licences these are " supposed " to be professional drivers are buses so cheap that companies can afford to send anyone to drive them

[thailand49]

Speed greater mean that is fit for the safety on that road.

Lack of commercial vehicle training.

Lack of enforcement of driver qualification and inspection.

[mran66]

On 2/2/2025 at 5:02 AM, watchcat said:

 

No brakes?

 

Hab. But failed. 

[Ironmike]

No idea how he could of been speeding being that they're so many idiot drivers on the roads here now,, I rode my bike to Kata from Rawai the other day a normal run would be 15 minutes but it took me almost 40.

[NorthernRyland]

On 2/2/2025 at 3:50 AM, Georgealbert said:

The cause of the crash is still under investigation, as authorities continue to gather evidence at the scene.
 

Initial reports from dash-cam footage, suggests the bus driver was travelling at speed when he lost control, causing the bus to swerve, striking the crash barrier and then crashing through it and plunging into the ravine.

 

 

Maybe Thailand should consider enforcing speed limits and reckless driving laws. Yeah right that will never happen because it would require those fatties in tight brown suits to get off their bums and do something.

 

Just saw this one today. Guys months only baby dies in the crash and it was probably his own fault. They actually show him crying with the body wrapped on the side of road.

 

"Microsleep" is always to blame. Are they so dense they seriously don't understand what they're doing is dangerous? It's all fun and games until they crash and then it's tears but why can't they connect the dots...

 

 

[lordgrinz]

Anyone who gets on a tourist bus in Thailand needs to have their head examined! Best advice when getting off the plane is to avoid getting in/on any vehicle driven by a Thai, your life depends on it.

[NorthernRyland]

3 hours ago, Mywayboy said:

Normal Thai driving excessive speed & no idea how too drive.

Buffalo & Cart more suitable for them.

 

Someone needs to sue the car manufacturers for allowing Thailand to import cars which are effectively being used a dangerous weapons. It's basically like selling a machine gun to an 8 year old. Of course they going to screw up and kill somebody.

[hotsun]

12 minutes ago, lordgrinz said:

Anyone who gets on a tourist bus in Thailand needs to have their head examined! Best advice when getting off the plane is to avoid getting in/on any vehicle driven by a Thai, your life depends on it.

Ill never understand the way they drive though, i just let a taxi driver handle it

[Lopburikid]

On 2/2/2025 at 5:02 AM, watchcat said:

 

No brakes?

Sometimes bus drivers (private bus) bet who can makes the fastest trip to and from the same location over a week. Some van drives do the same. 

[watchcat]

1 minute ago, Lopburikid said:

Sometimes bus drivers (private bus) bet who can makes the fastest trip to and from the same location over a week. Some van drives do the same. 

 

No other traffic on the road then?

[Lokie]

Really makes you wonder what the driver was thinking? Going that fast in a bus for what reason...?? 

 

Oh well, it will go down as Brake Failure id wager from investigation

[steven100]

1 hour ago, mran66 said:

 

Hab. But failed. 

you hansum man ...  hab ATM na 

[ronster]

Another week another bus .

But hey it's normal, isn't it 🙄🙈

[Ctkong]

1 hour ago, NorthernRyland said:

 

Maybe Thailand should consider enforcing speed limits and reckless driving laws. Yeah right that will never happen because it would require those fatties in tight brown suits to get off their bums and do something.

 

Just saw this one today. Guys months only baby dies in the crash and it was probably his own fault. They actually show him crying with the body wrapped on the side of road.

 

"Microsleep" is always to blame. Are they so dense they seriously don't understand what they're doing is dangerous? It's all fun and games until they crash and then it's tears but why can't they connect the dots...

 

 

You often read about road accidents from micro sleep, intoxication or simply reckless driving. Thais can go to events far away , celebrate and then drive back home regardless of sleep deprivation. This is dangerously stupid. They rarely do designate a driver among themselves to look after their safety. 

[Wuvu2]

2 hours ago, steven100 said:

speeding again of coarse .....    that's what caused the accident. 

Of course, it was probably caused by speeding, but it could have been caused by coarse roads too 🙄

[Mr Meeseeks]

On 2/2/2025 at 3:50 AM, Georgealbert said:

suggests the bus driver was travelling at speed when he lost control

 

Thais are always so careful when at the wheel of a vehicle that carries passengers.

 

I reckon it was brake failure.