Accident Coach Crash in Phetchaburi: Passengers Rescued After Vehicle Skids Off Wet Road

[Georgealbert]

 

Pictures courtesy of Khaosod.

 

An incident unfolded on the night of 8 July, as a long-distance passenger coach travelling from Bangkok to Phuket skidded on a rain-slicked road and overturned onto its side, leaving several passengers injured.

 

The incident occurred at approximately 20:30 on the southbound carriageway of Phetkasem Road (Highway 4), kilometre marker 151+560, in Hua Saphan sub-district, Mueang District, Phetchaburi Province. Pol. Capt. Sunanta Rodphet, an investigative officer at Mueang Phetchaburi Police Station, responded swiftly after receiving the emergency call, coordinating rescue efforts with several medical and volunteer units.

 

Upon arrival, authorities discovered the air-conditioned interprovincial coach, registration number from Phuket, overturned at the roadside. According to initial reports, the vehicle was carrying 28 passengers, both Thai and foreign tourists and two drivers. Many attempting to escape by smashing the windows of the upturned coach.

 

Rescue teams from Phra Chom Klao Hospital, Mahachai Phetcharat Hospital and the Sawang Sanphet Dhammasathan Foundation, along locals provided urgent assistance. Eleven people were injured and were promptly transported to nearby hospitals for treatment.

 

Mr. Phakkhaphat Songwatthayut, Deputy Governor of Phetchaburi Province, arrived at the scene shortly afterward with senior provincial health and transport officials to assess the situation. Uninjured passengers were taken to the provincial hall to await an alternative coach arranged by the bus company to continue their journey.

 

The driver of the coach, Mr. Thalerngsak Tapina, told police he had departed from Bangkok’s Southern Bus Terminal with 28 passengers on board. He said light rain had begun to fall as the vehicle approached the crash site, making the road surface dangerously slippery. He lost control of the vehicle, which spun out and rolled over onto the roadside embankment.

 

Authorities are continuing their investigation into the exact cause of the crash.

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Khoasod 2025-07-09

 

 

 

[ikke1959]

It is not the slippery road that caused the accident, but the speeding of the driver.. Unbelievable if you drive on Phetkasem road here and see how often these busses. overloaded pickups and minivans are speeding and push you to go aside...Easy to claim that the slippery road was the problem to safe your face and hide your own faults.

[blaze master]

2 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

He said light rain had begun to fall as the vehicle approached the crash site, making the road surface dangerously slippery. He lost control of the vehicle, which spun out and rolled over onto the roadside embankment.

 

Speed. 

[JoePai]

Again another problem with the 'slippery rain' they have here in Thailand

[Hardcastle P]

Speed caused it how is that an accident, an accident is something you have control over. 

[richard_smith237]

25 minutes ago, Hardcastle P said:

Speed caused it how is that an accident, an accident is something you have control over. 

Agreed (though I think you meant - "an accident is something a driver doesn't have control over") 

 

 

Referring to road incidents - especially single-vehicle collisions - as "accidents" is inaccurate and misleading.

 

We all know why... 

 

Predictable Causes:

Most single-vehicle collisions are caused by identifiable and preventable factors such as:

  - Speeding

  - Distracted driving (e.g. mobile phone use)

  - Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs

  - Fatigue

  - Weather conditions ignored or mishandled

  - Mechanical neglect (e.g. bald tyres, bad brakes)

These aren’t “acts of God” - they result from choices or failures in responsibility.

 

Human Error, Not Random Chance:

Single-vehicle crashes usually occur due to the driver's behaviour or failure to respond appropriately to the environment. That makes them collisions or crashes - not accidents. Using "accident" downplays the driver's responsibility.

 

Language Shapes Accountability:

Calling it an "accident" implies it was unavoidable - which can obstruct justice, blur responsibility, or reduce the perceived need for policy changes or education. That’s why terms like "crash" or "collision" are more accurate, or even 'incident'.

 

 

 

A single-vehicle road collision is can't be an accident (in most cases) because it's rarely unforeseen or unavoidable. It typically stems from driver decisions, neglect, or manageable conditions.

It's a crash, not fate. Calling it an accident dilutes accountability - a very common thing here.

[khunjeff]

If it starts to rain, SLOW DOWN - that's not rocket science.

[thaichiro]

Brakes failed…

[cheerz]

Speed always at fault not rain but if you have inexperienced

drivers with no common sense look forward to more accidents

[ronster]

Have a cheek to charge for using these buses as you are having a higher and higher chance of not reaching your destination these days it seems ! 😳

[hotchilli]

9 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

An incident unfolded on the night of 8 July, as a long-distance passenger coach travelling from Bangkok to Phuket skidded on a rain-slicked road and overturned onto its side, leaving several passengers injured.

The joys of travelling in Thailand....

[wensiensheng]

If the driver noticed slippery rain…..why not slow down to a safe speed?

[geisha]

A double decker bus ?? 
That road is a racing track. I hated the Hua Hin to Bangkok  trot, in a taxi, as I always arrived with frazzled nerves. 

[dingdongrb]

Just imagine if Thais had to drive on snow-packed and icy roads......

 

I think it would be more entertaining than watching Texans driving in Colorado during some of those snow days....

 

'Hey, I have 4-wheel drive, I can go fast without any problem.'   🙂

 

[Kwausie]

The back up driver on board should have been screaming at him to slow down or was he asleep!!

[boloaf]

Open and shut case. Driving too fast for the conditions. Take him down!

[Blueman1]

Bald TYRE'S ....Yep ??

[cardinalblue]

One can drive safely in the rain….reduce speed

[Nid_Noi]

10 hours ago, geisha said:

A double decker bus ?? 
That road is a racing track. I hated the Hua Hin to Bangkok  trot, in a taxi, as I always arrived with frazzled nerves. 

I bet it happened in the relatively tight left curve in Hua Saphan where the road goes over a khlong, opposite to a Thai temple (Wat Khema) on the west side of the road (a mile before Makro). 

 

 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/ ?g_st=ipc

[RTJackson]

1 hour ago, Nid_Noi said:

I bet it happened in the relatively tight left curve in Hua Saphan where the road goes over a khlong, opposite to a Thai temple (Wat Khema) on the west side of the road (a mile before Makro). 

 

 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/ ?g_st=ipc

Isn't there also a lot of paint on the road in that curve ? I've learned how to get home on back roads specifically because of the drivers on Petchkasem tailgating,  speeding, refusing to merge, etc.  It might take a bit longer but it's more scenic, safer, and much less stress. 

[kiwikeith]

22 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

It is not the slippery road that caused the accident, but the speeding of the driver.. Unbelievable if you drive on Phetkasem road here and see how often these busses. overloaded pickups and minivans are speeding and push you to go aside...Easy to claim that the slippery road was the problem to safe your face and hide your own faults.

Totally agree 

 

 

[VBF]

On 7/9/2025 at 6:01 AM, richard_smith237 said:

Agreed (though I think you meant - "an accident is something a driver doesn't have control over") 

 

 

Referring to road incidents - especially single-vehicle collisions - as "accidents" is inaccurate and misleading.

 

We all know why... 

 

Predictable Causes:

Most single-vehicle collisions are caused by identifiable and preventable factors such as:

  - Speeding

  - Distracted driving (e.g. mobile phone use)

  - Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs

  - Fatigue

  - Weather conditions ignored or mishandled

  - Mechanical neglect (e.g. bald tyres, bad brakes)

These aren’t “acts of God” - they result from choices or failures in responsibility.

 

Human Error, Not Random Chance:

Single-vehicle crashes usually occur due to the driver's behaviour or failure to respond appropriately to the environment. That makes them collisions or crashes - not accidents. Using "accident" downplays the driver's responsibility.

 

Language Shapes Accountability:

Calling it an "accident" implies it was unavoidable - which can obstruct justice, blur responsibility, or reduce the perceived need for policy changes or education. That’s why terms like "crash" or "collision" are more accurate, or even 'incident'.

 

 

 

A single-vehicle road collision is can't be an accident (in most cases) because it's rarely unforeseen or unavoidable. It typically stems from driver decisions, neglect, or manageable conditions.

It's a crash, not fate. Calling it an accident dilutes accountability - a very common thing here.

 

Absolutely right - found this AI-generated definition which sums it up perfectly:

 

Police in UK typically refer to traffic collisions as "road traffic collisions" (RTCs). The term "accident" is generally avoided as it implies a random, unavoidable event, whereas collisions often involve human factors or other contributing elements. 

 

[Pompeygeezer]

On 7/9/2025 at 7:18 AM, ronster said:

Have a cheek to charge for using these buses as you are having a higher and higher chance of not reaching your destination these days it seems ! 😳

Good point, they should be paying people to get in them death traps.  

[TheTightArseTraveller]

I caught a bus from Surin to Pattaya last year.  ONE driver through the whole overnight journey with only one stop in the 7 hour journey.

To say I was glad to get there is an understatement.