Skip to content
View in the app

A better way to browse. Learn more.

Thailand News and Discussion Forum | ASEANNOW

A full-screen app on your home screen with push notifications, badges and more.

To install this app on iOS and iPadOS
  1. Tap the Share icon in Safari
  2. Scroll the menu and tap Add to Home Screen.
  3. Tap Add in the top-right corner.
To install this app on Android
  1. Tap the 3-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner of the browser.
  2. Tap Add to Home screen or Install app.
  3. Confirm by tapping Install.

Fatal Bus Crash Injures 41 Burapha University Students

Featured Replies

 

image.jpeg

Pictures courtesy of Khaosod

 

A collision involving two university buses left one driver dead and 41 students injured in Chonburi on the evening, 31 October 2025. The crash occurred at around 18:30 near the Bang Phra toll gate on the motorway in Nong Khankhok Subdistrict, Mueang District. The buses were carrying a total of 70 Burapha University students returning from a field trip in Rayong Province.

 

Police and rescue teams from the Trai Khunatham Foundation arrived quickly to assist the injured. Both were damaged and a total of 41 students, 36 female and 5 male, sustained injuries of varying severity and were rushed to Chonburi Hospital for treatment.


image.jpeg

 

The rear bus driver, identified as 55-year-old Suchart Kongmuang, was found trapped inside the vehicle after being pinned against the steering wheel. Rescue workers used hydraulic cutters to free him, but despite rapid first aid, he was pronounced dead at the scene.

 

According to Sontaya Phutthapoom, the driver of the lead bus, both vehicles had been transporting students back to Burapha University following a study trip. As he stopped to pay the toll, the second driver reportedly radioed that his brakes had failed and could not stop. Moments later, the bus slammed into the back of his vehicle with force.

 

Police from the motorway division have begun reviewing CCTV footage from the toll gate to verify the sequence of events and mechanical cause of the crash. Investigators will also reinterview Mr. Sontaya and other witnesses to determine whether brake failure or negligence contributed to the fatal impact.

 

Authorities confirmed that all injured students were receiving medical care and the university has been informed of the incident. Further forensic inspections will be conducted on both buses to ensure compliance with safety standards and maintenance records.

 

image.jpeg

 

Key Takeaways

 

• A Burapha University bus crash in Chonburi killed one driver and injured 41 students.

• Police are investigating claims that the rear bus suffered brake failure before impact.

• CCTV footage and mechanical inspections will determine the exact cause of the collision.

 

Related Stories

 

Bus-school-bus-collision-in-Rayong-kills-one-injures-28

 

Five-vehicle-pile-up-kills-three-on-motorway-near-Pattaya

 

 

image.png  Adapted  by  Asean  Now from Khaosod 2025-11-01

 

 

image.png

 

image.png

 

  • Replies 33
  • Views 1.7k
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Most Popular Posts

  • Tail gating at high speed?

  • It is the way in Thailand to save their face... They never do anything wrong but always something or someone else is to blame. In cars it is always brake failure, which is just impossible.. every car

  • josephbloggs
    josephbloggs

    Nice that you're glad he is dead. How was it tailgating? Where did you get that information? The lead bus was stopped and paying the toll so had obviously been at a full stop for a few seconds. I

Posted Images

Many drivers drive like crazy...even with a police escort they use right lanes to speed up...the third accident in a week time with students involved..results of lack of everything

  • Popular Post

Tail gating at high speed?

8 minutes ago, Mason45 said:

Tail gating at high speed?

 

WIth no brakes! Crazy.

  • Popular Post
1 hour ago, Georgealbert said:

Investigators will also reinterview Mr. Sontaya and other witnesses to determine whether brake failure or negligence contributed to the fatal impact.

 

I don't believe the "bakes was not working story",  so it's all up to neglience from the following bus.

46 minutes ago, ikke1959 said:

Many drivers drive like crazy...even with a police escort they use right lanes to speed up...the third accident in a week time with students involved..results of lack of everything

Including the passenger coaches. I thought of this just last night as I saw a few on Hwy 36, oh shxt, high season!

  • Popular Post

No idea or understanding of consequence!

1 hour ago, watchcat said:

 

I don't believe the "bakes was not working story",  so it's all up to neglience from the following bus.

It is the way in Thailand to save their face... They never do anything wrong but always something or someone else is to blame. In cars it is always brake failure, which is just impossible.. every car can stop at a petrol station, picking the persons up, stop to eat, sometimes stop for traffic lights and never a problem, only when there is an accident the brakes failed. Maybe they think that when you use thr brakes you stop instantly, never heard of braking distance

4 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

forensic inspections will be conducted on both buses to ensure compliance with safety standards and maintenance records.

I travelled for NINE hours on a VIP bus from Pattaya to Korat.  Every tire had no tread & looked to be over-inflated; there was rear end damage.  It was checked by police at a couple of stops and permitted to continue!

  • Popular Post
15 minutes ago, mikebell said:

I travelled for NINE hours on a VIP bus from Pattaya to Korat.  Every tire had no tread & looked to be over-inflated; there was rear end damage.  It was checked by police at a couple of stops and permitted to continue!

And the question is: why did you enter that "bus"?

  • Popular Post

 

 

3 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

Many drivers drive like crazy...even with a police escort they use right lanes to speed up...the third accident in a week time with students involved..results of lack of everything

 

Those police escort entourages really annoy me we they slot into the right hand lane on the 7 motorway.... if they want to travel at 100km/h move over to the <deleted> left.

4 hours ago, mikebell said:

I travelled for NINE hours on a VIP bus from Pattaya to Korat.  Every tire had no tread & looked to be over-inflated; there was rear end damage.  It was checked by police at a couple of stops and permitted to continue!

Presumably, the driver was wearing his amulet, they believe it helps, and look...

8 hours ago, Mason45 said:

Tail gating at high speed?

Got it in one.... at least he won't do it again

7 hours ago, watchcat said:

 

I don't believe the "bakes was not working story",  so it's all up to neglience from the following bus.

 

If the driver said his brakes were failing prior to the collision, then it is reasonable that they did. Poor maintenance is not uncommon.

Speeding and tailgating is also a problem.

5 hours ago, newbee2022 said:

And the question is: why did you enter that "bus"?

Sometimes the alternatives are not available. He was traveling from Pattaya to Korat. Not Tokyo to kyoto.

8 hours ago, Mason45 said:

Tail gating at high speed?

14 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Got it in one.... at least he won't do it again


Nice that you're glad he is dead.

How was it tailgating? Where did you get that information? The lead bus was stopped and paying the toll so had obviously been at a full stop for a few seconds. If it was tailgating he would have hit him as soon as he started to slow for the toll, he didn't stop instantly, he will have slowed over 20-30 seconds. The second bus must have been quite a way behind him to have hit him at full speed when he was stopped and paying the toll.

Just more random bashing from you based on nothing. No logic to your thought, just blame the dead guy and make something up, then celebrate it.

Whether radioing about brakes was true is another matter. 

 

 

33 minutes ago, Patong2021 said:

Sometimes the alternatives are not available. He was traveling from Pattaya to Korat. Not Tokyo to kyoto.

Minibus? Flight?? Rent a car?

9 hours ago, watchcat said:

 

I don't believe the "bakes was not working story",  so it's all up to neglience from the following bus.

I do believe he may have had no brakes

Give these clowns a brand-new bus and the first trip they take will have brake shoes burning from way too much use of them

Fit Tachographs on all heavy vehicles and see what excuses are used, time and speed all recorded as evidence

1 hour ago, josephbloggs said:


Nice that you're glad he is dead.

How was it tailgating? Where did you get that information? The lead bus was stopped and paying the toll so had obviously been at a full stop for a few seconds. If it was tailgating he would have hit him as soon as he started to slow for the toll, he didn't stop instantly, he will have slowed over 20-30 seconds. The second bus must have been quite a way behind him to have hit him at full speed when he was stopped and paying the toll.

Just more random bashing from you based on nothing. No logic to your thought, just blame the dead guy and make something up, then celebrate it.

Whether radioing about brakes was true is another matter. 

 

 

Well he certainly wasn't paying attention, and paid the price for being blind...

and yes, the fewer of these drivers on the road the better.

8 hours ago, newbee2022 said:

Minibus? Flight?? Rent a car?

Pattaya U Tapao does not have air service to Khorat. I believe that the last time Nakhon Ratchasima Airport had service to Bangkok was in 2019.   You are the first person I have seen actually recommending that someone take a minibus for a 6 hour+ drive. Minibus is a coffin on wheels. Many people prefer not to drive in Thailand. It is a hassle to do 5+ hours, especially with the quality of drivers and roads in Thailand. Assuming of course the person can drive.

19 minutes ago, Patong2021 said:

Pattaya U Tapao does not have air service to Khorat. I believe that the last time Nakhon Ratchasima Airport had service to Bangkok was in 2019.   You are the first person I have seen actually recommending that someone take a minibus for a 6 hour+ drive. Minibus is a coffin on wheels. Many people prefer not to drive in Thailand. It is a hassle to do 5+ hours, especially with the quality of drivers and roads in Thailand. Assuming of course the person can drive.

I don't live in LOS anymore, but I go on holiday twice a year for a few weeks, with our minibus driver, the safest driver I have seen in LOS. He stops at every traffic light when it turns red. Of course, we have just done a trip from Ratchaburi to Chiang Mai and back, with stops.I can't complain about his driving.

3 hours ago, still kicking said:

He stops at every traffic light when it turns red.

 

Wow. He really is an amazing driver. You're so lucky to have him. 

20 hours ago, mikebell said:

I travelled for NINE hours on a VIP bus from Pattaya to Korat.  Every tire had no tread & looked to be over-inflated; there was rear end damage.  It was checked by police at a couple of stops and permitted to continue!

Did that journey heck of a lot in my early days here, I don't remember it taking so long. Trucks, busses, coaches and all that moves has over worn tyres.  Telling my Mrs to go get  a new front one on her motorcycle and she was incredulous until she went down on a corner on a wet day!

Over inflation saves fuel!

17 hours ago, Patong2021 said:

Speeding and tailgating is also a problem.

 

Normaly one wont speeding with problem eith brakes.

6 hours ago, jacko45k said:

Did that journey heck of a lot in my early days here, I don't remember it taking so long. Trucks, busses, coaches and all that moves has over worn tyres.  Telling my Mrs to go get  a new front one on her motorcycle and she was incredulous until she went down on a corner on a wet day!

Over inflation saves fuel!

Sri Mongkol bus station on 3rd road.  A disgrace even by Thai standards.

22 hours ago, Peterphuket said:

Presumably, the driver was wearing his amulet, they believe it helps, and look...

Sri Mongkol bus station on 3rd road.  A disgrace even by Thai standards.

On 11/1/2025 at 8:54 AM, newbee2022 said:

And the question is: why did you enter that "bus"?

I got on at the front.

 It was only at one of the frequent stops that I discovered the rest.

Sri Mongkol bus station on 3rd Road - a disgrace even by Thai standards.

35 minutes ago, mikebell said:

I got on at the front.

 It was only at one of the frequent stops that I discovered the rest.

Sri Mongkol bus station on 3rd Road - a disgrace even by Thai standards.

I know why I never travel on Public Transport (exception flights)

On 11/1/2025 at 5:41 AM, Mason45 said:

Tail gating at high speed?

The lead bus was stopped to pay the toll, how could the following bus have been "tailgating at high speed"?

Recently Browsing 0

  • No registered users viewing this page.

Account

Navigation

Search

Search

Configure browser push notifications

Chrome (Android)
  1. Tap the lock icon next to the address bar.
  2. Tap Permissions → Notifications.
  3. Adjust your preference.
Chrome (Desktop)
  1. Click the padlock icon in the address bar.
  2. Select Site settings.
  3. Find Notifications and adjust your preference.