Bus slams into shelter after driver nods off

BANGKOK: -- An air-conditioned bus ploughed into a bus stop shelter at high speed yesterday near Soi Navamin 64 in Bung Kum district after its driver fell asleep, leaving one man in hospital with serious injuries.

A woman was also slightly injured.

It was the second accident of its kind in a week.

On July 17, a No. 542 bus brought down a shelter in Pin Klao area, injuring six people.

Staff from Bung Kum district will lodge a complaint with police today, demanding the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority pay compensation for injuries and damage to the shelter.

District chief Surasak Sornkrua said the driver of the No. 60 bus fell asleep at the wheel. The two injured people had been waiting in the shelter.

Mr Surasak insisted the shelter was strong and would not easily collapse. Bangkok deputy governor Samart Ratchapolsitte said it was not protruding into the road.

However, Deputy Transport Minister Adisorn Piengkes said the shelter was in poor condition. The city should properly maintain all bus stop shelters.

--Bangkok Post 2005-07-25

However, Deputy Transport Minister Adisorn Piengkes said the shelter was in poor condition. The city should properly maintain all bus stop shelters.

ROFL ... If the Shelter was just manitained, it would have been undamaged by the runaway bus?