Tour Bus Crashes Off Road in Surat Thani – Multiple Injuries, Including Foreign Tourists

[Georgealbert]

 

Pictured from rrsponders.

 

A road crash occurred in Surat Thani, on 4 April, after a tour bus veered off the road and crashed, leaving dozens injured, including several foreign tourists. Emergency services rushed to the scene and engaged in a large-scale rescue operation.

 

The crash happened at approximately 12:05 on Highway 44 (Southern Seaboard), near a Bangchak petrol station in Bang Sawat Subdistrict, Phra Saeng District. According to the Kuson Sattha Rescue Foundation, the bus reportedly lost control and careened off the roadside embankment. The exact cause of the accident remains under investigation.

 

 

Initial reports indicate that between 10 and 20 passengers were injured in the crash. Several were trapped inside the wreckage and required urgent extraction. Rescue workers deployed cutting tools and emergency medical equipment to free the injured from the severely damaged vehicle.

 

 

Emergency responders confirmed that a number of the injured were foreign nationals travelling as part of a tour group. The nationalities and full extent of their injuries have not yet been confirmed.

 

Ambulances from nearby districts were dispatched to the crash site, with multiple victims being transported to hospitals in Surat Thani for urgent treatment.

Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the incident. Eyewitness accounts are being collected, and CCTV footage from along the route is being reviewed.

 

Officials from the Ministry of Transport have expressed concern and pledged a full investigation. A representative stated: “We are working closely with local authorities to determine the cause and will be reviewing transport company safety procedures. The safety of both Thai citizens and international tourists is our top priority.”

 

 

-- 2025-04-04

 

[newbee2022]

5 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

 

Pictured from rrsponders.

 

A road crash occurred in Surat Thani, on 4 April, after a tour bus veered off the road and crashed, leaving dozens injured, including several foreign tourists. Emergency services rushed to the scene and engaged in a large-scale rescue operation.

 

The crash happened at approximately 12:05 on Highway 44 (Southern Seaboard), near a Bangchak petrol station in Bang Sawat Subdistrict, Phra Saeng District. According to the Kuson Sattha Rescue Foundation, the bus reportedly lost control and careened off the roadside embankment. The exact cause of the accident remains under investigation.

 

 

Initial reports indicate that between 10 and 20 passengers were injured in the crash. Several were trapped inside the wreckage and required urgent extraction. Rescue workers deployed cutting tools and emergency medical equipment to free the injured from the severely damaged vehicle.

 

 

Emergency responders confirmed that a number of the injured were foreign nationals travelling as part of a tour group. The nationalities and full extent of their injuries have not yet been confirmed.

 

Ambulances from nearby districts were dispatched to the crash site, with multiple victims being transported to hospitals in Surat Thani for urgent treatment.

Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the incident. Eyewitness accounts are being collected, and CCTV footage from along the route is being reviewed.

 

Officials from the Ministry of Transport have expressed concern and pledged a full investigation. A representative stated: “We are working closely with local authorities to determine the cause and will be reviewing transport company safety procedures. The safety of both Thai citizens and international tourists is our top priority.”

 

 

-- 2025-04-04

 

Heavy rain?

Slippery Road?

Brake failure 

or just the most likely issue:

LINE or

NAP

Take your pick

[Alexjkr]

6 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

 

 the bus reportedly lost control and careened off the roadside embankment.

 

The bus lost control, not the driver?

[watchcat]

9 hours ago, newbee2022 said:

Heavy rain?

Slippery Road?

Brake failure 

or just the most likely issue:

LINE or

NAP

Take your pick

 

 

I'll ad TikTok And facebook to your list.

[Georgealbert]

UPDATE
6 Foreign Tourists Injured as Tour Bus Skids Off Highway in Surat Thani

 

Picture from responders.

 

Further details have emerged following the tour bus crashin Surat Thani, on 5 April, which left six foreign tourists injured while en route to Koh Samui.

 

The crash occurred  along Southern Seaboard Highway 44 in the Phra Saeng district. The bus, operated by Rittichai Tourism, had departed from Ao Nang in Krabi and was heading toward the popular island destination when it veered off the road, reportedly due to wet surface conditions.

 

According to Police Lieutenant Colonel Suriyan Petchuay, Chief Inspector of Bang Sawan Police Station, the vehicle was carrying 40 international tourists along with three Thai staff members. Six passengers sustained injuries. Among them, British and Malaysian nationals were treated for more serious injuries including cervical spine fractures and facial trauma. They remain under observation at Bangkok Hospital Surat in Surat Thani City.

 

Two Dutch nationals and tourists from France and Germany also suffered minor injuries but were treated and discharged shortly after. The remaining uninjured passengers were later transported to Koh Samui to continue their journey.

 

Authorities have since confirmed that the bus driver is facing charges of reckless driving. Further charges may be added depending on the recovery time of the injured. “If any of the victims require more than 20 days of medical treatment, the charges could escalate,” said Lt. Col. Suriyan. “It was fortunate the bus didn’t collide with trees or utility poles, which could have resulted in a far graver outcome.”

 

Police continue to investigate the precise cause of Friday’s crash, and safety audits on the tour bus operator are expected to follow.

 

-- 2025-04-04

 

 

[smedly]

ffs every day

 when are they going to do something 

[roo860]

'reportedly due to wet surface conditions.'

 

That old chestnut, not the <deleted> 'driving' it.

[fredwiggy]

22 minutes ago, smedly said:

ffs every day

 when are they going to do something 

When a family member of an official dies.

[NE1]

That road does not look wet !

[hotchilli]

18 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

The exact cause of the accident remains under investigation.

On a seemingly straight road one can guess.

[newbee2022]

3 hours ago, watchcat said:

 

 

I'll ad TikTok And facebook to your list.

Oh thank you, my "likes" will be skyrocketing. 😂

[Gandtee]

1 hour ago, fredwiggy said:

When a family member of an official dies.

Family members of officials responsible do not travel by bus. Brown envelopes allow them to travel by safer modes.

[fredwiggy]

3 minutes ago, Gandtee said:

Family members of officials responsible do not travel by bus. Brown envelopes allow them to travel by safer modes.

There's always family members traced back to the country, as all Thais are related to someone back in the country. But true that most are immune because of cash handed out.

[ronster]

And again and again and again !!

Few days till it happens again 🙈

[jesimps]

1 hour ago, NE1 said:

That road does not look wet !

It also looks perfectly straight. My money's on driver either nodding off or texting.

[Harrisfan]

50% of drivers are bad ime.

[LennyW]

Road looks bone dry and dead straight, guess again Somchai!!

[NorthernRyland]

18 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

Officials from the Ministry of Transport have expressed concern and pledged a full investigation. A representative stated: “We are working closely with local authorities to determine the cause and will be reviewing transport company safety procedures.

 

Do they know how embarrassing this is for them in their face saving culture? It's such a joke I cringe a little reading these things.

 

Any person from a civilized country that steps foot in Thailand for 10 minutes, figures out they have a serious problem behaving while driving yet the authorities can't figure out why buses keep going off the road.

 

 

[Mr Meeseeks]

Another VIP homemade bus by the looks of it.

 

These things are complete deathtraps. Built in workshops to no recognised standard whatsoever and never safety or crash tested. 

 

Stick a Volvo or Benz badge on it and you're good to go.

[bkk6060]

I know many people here who do not have cars and do not want to drive.  They say Ï take a bus or taxi¨ and they think it is safer.

Not really at all in my mind cuz you are giving up control of a dangerous/deadly weapon (a vehicle) to another person you know nothing about.   If people want to have other unknowns transport them,  realize the risk.  

[Classic Ray]

The wet surface is not the problem, it is the excessive speed for the conditions and possibly the physical condition of the bus that is. 
 

Like lots of things here, the surface appearance of the vehicle is deemed far more important than the underlying mechanics and frame. The latter can have been rebodied repeatedly. 
 

Time for the Government to forget about posturing for car scrappage schemes and set about encouraging the manufacture of new buses and the scrapping and breaking up of the old ones.
 

Training and regulation of drivers could also be overhauled if they want to raise Thailand’s reputation as a safe holiday destination. 

[Snackbar]

DLT 

[factual monk]

Lucky that no fatalities... God bless all... 

Take care folks... Thailand is currently going through a bad patch of accidents ... either man-made or natural...

Stay calm and hope for the best... 👍 

[Showtime]

From what I can tell the roads are special in Thailand as they have the ability to throw vehicles off themselves.  Funny how that happens isn't it.

[Showtime]

1 hour ago, bkk6060 said:

I know many people here who do not have cars and do not want to drive.  They say Ï take a bus or taxi¨ and they think it is safer.

Not really at all in my mind cuz you are giving up control of a dangerous/deadly weapon (a vehicle) to another person you know nothing about.   If people want to have other unknowns transport them,  realize the risk.  

 

I would love to see the mortality tables in Thailand against the mortality tables in developed countries say the EU, UK, USA, Australia, New Zealand.

[Nid_Noi]

That’s not going to help the statistics of the TAT. Thailand has become the land of tears for too many foreigners.

[kuzmabruk]

21 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

exact cause of the accident remains under investigation.

Watching tiktok while driving.  

[Peterphuket]

Here we go again....

Day after day. again,

one more time, again?

[Peterphuket]

1 hour ago, Classic Ray said:

The wet surface is not the problem, it is the excessive speed for the conditions and possibly the physical condition of the bus that is. 
 

Like lots of things here, the surface appearance of the vehicle is deemed far more important than the underlying mechanics and frame. The latter can have been rebodied repeatedly. 
 

Time for the Government to forget about posturing for car scrappage schemes and set about encouraging the manufacture of new buses and the scrapping and breaking up of the old ones.
 

Training and regulation of drivers could also be overhauled if they want to raise Thailand’s reputation as a safe holiday destination. 

You know, it's always something else.

[Tubulat]

4 hours ago, fredwiggy said:

When a family member of an official dies.

Well only if it is very high up the hierarchy, otherwise not.