BREAKING NEWS Seven Dead as Runaway Bus Slams into Trucks and Bursts into Flames

[Georgealbert]

Pictures from responders.

 

At least seven people have died and 39 others were injured after a passenger bus suffered brake failure and ploughed into three trucks before catching fire in a horrific early morning crash.

 

The incident occurred around 02:00 on 21 April, along a downhill stretch of road at Khao Thon in Buprahm subdistrict, Na Di district, Prachinburi province. The bus driver, operating on the Rayong–Nong Khai route and registered in Udon Thani, lost control while descending and collided with a convoy of trucks.

 

 

Police Lieutenant Siwaphat Phuriphat Chaibunchoo, investigating officer at Wang Khon Daeng Police Station, confirmed the tragedy. The bus rammed into three trucks, including a white 22-wheel Hino from Pathum Thani and a white 10-wheel Isuzu from Nakhon Ratchasima. Despite the severity of the collision, the truck drivers were unharmed.

The driver of the bus, his assistant, and five passengers were pronounced dead at the scene. The driver was reportedly crushed behind the wheel, a detail described by first responders as “an impact too severe for survival.” The 39 injured include 24 men and 15 women, all of whom were rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment.

 

Eyewitness Lamson Puangphu, who was driving behind the ill-fated bus, said he noticed the vehicle descending at high speed. “I knew right away the brakes had failed,” he recounted. “I followed cautiously and then saw the crash unfold. I pulled over immediately and tried to help.”

 

Mr. Lamson attempted to assist trapped passengers, urging them to exit the vehicle before it was engulfed in flames. “I shouted to everyone to get out,” he said. “Luckily, some managed to escape before the fire took hold.”

 

Authorities are continuing their investigation into the cause of the crash and whether any safety violations were involved in the operation of the bus.

Adapted by ASEAN Now from Khaosod.

 

-- 2025-04-21

 

 

 

 

 

[webfact]

 

 

Pictures courtesy of Daily News

[worgeordie]

The bus driver obviously did not have the bus in low gear ,descending the hill,

while the truck drivers did and that's what stopped the bus driver , it seems

that nearly every accident that happens on descending hills ,is down to brake

failure , if only they would put it in low gear , RIP the deceased

 

regards worgeordie 

[KhunBENQ]

Horrible again and nothing happens.

A bit tiring to even list the problems.

[Georgealbert]

Thai media coverage from the scene.

 

 

[anchadian]

1 hour ago, Georgealbert said:

Thai media coverage from the scene.

 

 

Add this to the list:

A bus caught fire while the driver parked the vehicle at a petrol station in Ayutthaya province's Uthai district shortly before 5.30am Monday. Mr Kittima, 43, said he was away at the toilet for 5 minutes and when return, the bus was already on fire although he didn't know why.

 

https://x.com/KhaosodEnglish/status/1914149100293099671

 

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GpBscm5bIAAa2CE?format=jpg&name=medium

[Georgealbert]

1 hour ago, anchadian said:

Add this to the list:

A bus caught fire while the driver parked the vehicle at a petrol station in Ayutthaya province's Uthai district shortly before 5.30am Monday. Mr Kittima, 43, said he was away at the toilet for 5 minutes and when return, the bus was already on fire although he didn't know why.

 

https://x.com/KhaosodEnglish/status/1914149100293099671

 

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GpBscm5bIAAa2CE?format=jpg&name=medium

Already in the News Section.

 

 

[billd766]

4 hours ago, worgeordie said:

The bus driver obviously did not have the bus in low gear ,descending the hill,

while the truck drivers did and that's what stopped the bus driver , it seems

that nearly every accident that happens on descending hills ,is down to brake

failure , if only they would put it in low gear , RIP the deceased

 

regards worgeordie 

One of the things that I was taught many years ago, when I used to drive a truck was changing down through the gear box when going down hills. This of course was back in the old days, when there was no power brakes or power steering.

 

However, even nowadays in my 5 speed manual gearbox Ford Ranger pickup, I still double declutch and change gear. to slow down.

[Briggsy]

This is the small stretch of the 304 that descends from the Isaan plateau down into Prachinburi. I have never known a small stretch of road anywhere in the world have so many horrific accidents with so many fatalities.

 

I would love some of these accidents to be fully investigated. The level of negligence combined with brainlessly dangerous driving is beyond credulity.

[newbee2022]

5 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

Pictures from responders.

 

At least seven people have died and 39 others were injured after a passenger bus suffered brake failure and ploughed into three trucks before catching fire in a horrific early morning crash.

 

The incident occurred around 02:00 on 21 April, along a downhill stretch of road at Khao Thon in Buprahm subdistrict, Na Di district, Prachinburi province. The bus driver, operating on the Rayong–Nong Khai route and registered in Udon Thani, lost control while descending and collided with a convoy of trucks.

 

 

Police Lieutenant Siwaphat Phuriphat Chaibunchoo, investigating officer at Wang Khon Daeng Police Station, confirmed the tragedy. The bus rammed into three trucks, including a white 22-wheel Hino from Pathum Thani and a white 10-wheel Isuzu from Nakhon Ratchasima. Despite the severity of the collision, the truck drivers were unharmed.

The driver of the bus, his assistant, and five passengers were pronounced dead at the scene. The driver was reportedly crushed behind the wheel, a detail described by first responders as “an impact too severe for survival.” The 39 injured include 24 men and 15 women, all of whom were rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment.

 

Eyewitness Lamson Puangphu, who was driving behind the ill-fated bus, said he noticed the vehicle descending at high speed. “I knew right away the brakes had failed,” he recounted. “I followed cautiously and then saw the crash unfold. I pulled over immediately and tried to help.”

 

Mr. Lamson attempted to assist trapped passengers, urging them to exit the vehicle before it was engulfed in flames. “I shouted to everyone to get out,” he said. “Luckily, some managed to escape before the fire took hold.”

 

Authorities are continuing their investigation into the cause of the crash and whether any safety violations were involved in the operation of the bus.

Adapted by ASEAN Now from Khaosod.

 

-- 2025-04-21

 

 

 

 

 

So, actually no evidence of brake failure. 

[SLOWHAND225]

4 hours ago, worgeordie said:

The bus driver obviously did not have the bus in low gear ,descending the hill,

while the truck drivers did and that's what stopped the bus driver , it seems

that nearly every accident that happens on descending hills ,is down to brake

failure , if only they would put it in low gear , RIP the deceased

 

regards worgeordie 

 

Low gear going down hill is a bad practice. It heats everything up, especially the transmission. 

The rule typically for commercial drivers is that you go down hill in the same gear you got to the top in.
Shifting while going down hill with a clutch difficult for most people and not something that is taught.
Cleary you can shift an auto but the heat will tear it up before long.  Funny this should come up as I was looking at one of these busses last week and it had no trans. cooler at all which is really odd.

[ronster]

Yet again !

Week after week , month after month and year upon year the never ending accidents involving buses continues .

Shows how little the government care really when this carries on and on even after the one involving all the children that went on fire .

Reason my wife or family are not allowed on these death traps . I just don't allow it !

[NorthernRyland]

4 hours ago, worgeordie said:

it seems

that nearly every accident that happens on descending hills ,is down to brake

failure , if only they would put it in low gear , RIP the deceased

 

I almost don't believe them at this point it's break failure but probably reckless driving as usual. 

 

They must know about using low gears going downhill and I see signs all the time saying so much. Maybe that would be slower and they have no patience or they were trying to pass so they kept high speeds they couldn't recover from.

[jcmj]

I thought they banned those types of buses?

 

[NorthernRyland]

8 minutes ago, SLOWHAND225 said:

The rule typically for commercial drivers is that you go down hill in the same gear you got to the top in.
Shifting while going down hill with a clutch difficult for most people and not something that is taught.
Cleary you can shift an auto but the heat will tear it up before long.

 

I see signs all over Thailand saying to use low gear going downhill. Maybe that's just for cars? Doesn't need to the lowest gear but a lower gear helps.

[SLOWHAND225]

1 minute ago, NorthernRyland said:

 

I see signs all over Thailand saying to use low gear going downhill. Maybe that's just for cars? Doesn't need to the lowest gear but a lower gear helps.

correct. 

[digger70]

Seven Dead as Runaway Bus Slams into Trucks and Bursts into Flames 

 

One more reason for brake failure is that when the driver goes to fast downhill and stands on the brakes they will get cooked and will not slow down the vehicle (bus or truck)  like they suppose to.

That's brake failure caused by brain failure.

[riverhigh]

"The incident occurred around 02:00 on 21 April, along a downhill stretch of road at Khao Thon in Buprahm subdistrict, Na Di district, Prachinburi province."

 

Ok let me write  that down ... road at Khao Thon in Buprahm subdistrict. Another place in Thailand where I won't go for peronal health reasons. To the best of my knowledge, flames are not conducive to healthy living

 

 

 

 

[jesimps]

At a guess I'd say the driver was travelling fast in top gear and breaking hard on bends instead of using his gears to assist in slowing down. Basically though, the problem here in most of these trajedies, is a complete and utter lack of common sense.

[Rumpelstilskin]

Success has many fathers, failure is an orphan. RIP the victims of this and other preventable accidents.

[Grumpy one]

1Less defective bus on the road

1 Less defective driver on the road

From a road safety view this is a winning combination.

RIP the innocent passengers

[impulse]

53 minutes ago, billd766 said:

However, even nowadays in my 5 speed manual gearbox Ford Ranger pickup, I still double declutch and change gear. to slow down.

 

Is double clutching a thing since they invented the synchro?  I learned to drive our 1957 Ford firetruck, and that's the last time I recall double clutching.

 

[impulse]

5 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

The incident occurred around 02:00 on 21 April, along a downhill stretch of road at Khao Thon in Buprahm subdistrict, Na Di district, Prachinburi province.

 

I wonder if that's one of the routes where they banned double deckers for this year's Songkran season?

 

Anyone know?

 

[Tarteso]

Easy to say brake failure 👎

 

RIP

[poyai111]

6 minutes ago, impulse said:

 

Is double clutching a thing since they invented the synchro?  I learned to drive our 1957 Ford firetruck, and that's the last time I recall double clutching.

 

Double shuffling is fine when the road speed is greater than the maximum speed that the selected gear is capable of. Judicious use of clutch and brake can achieve gear selection. Many synchrode boxes will not easily allow a direct shift but will protest vigorously because of this differential. On the track we call it "heeling and toeing"

[recom273]

34 minutes ago, jcmj said:

I thought they banned those types of buses?

 

Khon Kaen immigration used to be in the bus station so I used to see a lot of the intercity buses - geez - there was a time, before air travel became affordable that these buses were the main way to travel. It looks like they should be banned and taken out of service, they look a real mess now. 

[DualSportBiker]

57 minutes ago, Briggsy said:

This is the small stretch of the 304 that descends from the Isaan plateau down into Prachinburi. I have never known a small stretch of road anywhere in the world have so many horrific accidents with so many fatalities.

 

I would love some of these accidents to be fully investigated. The level of negligence combined with brainlessly dangerous driving is beyond credulity.

It's a pretty badly laid out section of road and often quite busy. It could do with a significant upgrade and some escape tracks for this very purpose.

 

RIP.

[geisha]

Just get these death traps off the roads immediately. I’d hate to know the age and security of them all.  What will it take for the authorities to to wake up ??

[factual monk]

Saddening... heartfelt condolences 🙏 

[Georgealbert]

UPDATE
Transport Ministry Orders Investigation Into Fatal Bus Crash in Prachinburi

 

Pictures courtesy of Matichon.

 

The Ministry of Transport has ordered an urgent investigation into a tragic bus accident that occurred in the early hours of April 21st near the Pu Thon Shrine on Highway 304, resulting in multiple fatalities and injuries.

 

Deputy Transport Minister Surapong Piyachote confirmed that the incident took place at 01:17 near kilometre marker 208+600, at the Kabin Buri–Wang Nam Khiao junction in Buphrahm Subdistrict, Na Di District, Prachinburi Province. A passenger bus caught fire after a collision with some trucks.

 

“I extend my deepest condolences to the families of the deceased and my sincere hopes for a swift recovery to those injured,” Mr Surapong said.

 

The Department of Land Transport (DLT) has been instructed to urgently investigate the exact cause of the crash and provide immediate assistance to the victims. Authorities are also coordinating with police investigators to follow up closely on the legal proceedings. The bus operator involved has been summoned to explain the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Should any breaches of the Land Transport Act be uncovered, legal action will be taken accordingly.

 

According to the DLT’s initial report, the bus was travelling from Nong Khai Province and collided with the truck at kilometre marker 210+500. The vehicle involved was a registered public transport bus, with tax validity through to 31 December 2025. The operator, 407 Pattana Co., Ltd., holds a transport licence valid until 20 July 2031. The 7 dead were 5 males and 2 females, including the driver, the relief driver and bus boy/assistant.
 

Witnesses in other vehicles have reported that the bus was seen zig zagging, in what appeared to be an attempt to slow the bus and avoid other vehicles.
 

Deputy Minister Surapong has directed the DLT to deploy an accident investigation team to the scene and work in coordination with relevant agencies to provide aid and compensation to those affected without delay.

 

Adapted by ASEAN Now from Matichon.

 

-- 2025-04-21