Bus Crash Kills 3, Injures 40 In Surat Thani

[webfact]

Bus Crash Kills 3, Injures 40 in Surat Thani

A Bangkok-Hat Yai bus has collided with a truck, resulting in the deaths of three passengers.

Nearly 40 others have been injured.

Most of the passengers are laborers left unemployed by the floods and were traveling to the southern provinces to find work.

Bann Nasarn police officers in Surat Thani Province and rescue teams have removed wounded passengers from the bus crash which occurred at the 208th kilometer post of the Asia Highway.

The bus was completely wrecked.

Twenty-five-year-old Saitong Tonyuang, 30-year-old Maneewan Tinkram, and 25-year-old Suradej Sammuang died in the crash.

Three critically injured passengers were sent to the Surat Thani Hospital.

The rest of the injured passengers are receiving treatment at the Yuparajwiangsa and Bann Narsarn hospitals.

According to the initial investigation, the bus belonged to Siam Transportation, which runs bus services from Bangkok to Hat Yai.

The accident occurred when the truck stopped unexpectedly around 200 meters before a police check point.

Unfortunately, the bus, which was behind the truck, was unable to stop.

The bus crashed into the back of the truck and the impact hurled both vehicles down the side of the highway.

Most of the passengers are workers of northern and northeastern origins and were laid off when factories they were working at closed down because of the floods in Bangkok and its surrounding provinces.

They gathered and traveled to find the new jobs in Hat Yai District of Songkhla Province.

-- Tan Network 2011-12-10

[sstuff3]

Sympathy to the families of those lost and utter disgust towards the owners and drivers of these buses that continue to put profits ahead of safety. It is very common to see these buses tail-gating trucks and other vehicles at high rates of speed on all types of roads in Thailand. Only education and a higher value placed on life will change this.

[moskito]

Déjà-vu

Sad but true, guess it was just 3 or 4 days ago, when 8 ppl died in another bus accident

may they rest in peace and the owners of the bus companies rot in hell :jap:

[jimbeam1]

lets not be to quick to blame the bus company for this one. Seems to me that the truck should not have been on the road? Stopped to avoid police check. The bus driver, like most Thai's not a clue how to drive?

Condolences to thefamiliess of the dead and Injured. As if there problems aren't enough already.

RIP the dead.

jb1

[johnsuma]

lets not be to quick to blame the bus company for this one. Seems to me that the truck should not have been on the road? Stopped to avoid police check. The bus driver, like most Thai's not a clue how to drive?

Condolences to thefamiliess of the dead and Injured. As if there problems aren't enough already.

RIP the dead.

jb1

Guess you seems wrong, if the bus was not following so close as they are habit to do, as well as to keep the right side of the

road, this accident will not have happened.

Education is the only key but authority doesn't mind, they play card and drink in their office at the place to make their duty (for what they are paid for).

The only little effort they make is to check motobike for the helmet.... People work and drive the same way they lives eh...

PS: best education is to make very heavy fine (minimum 1000 for those mad drivers, and the delivrance of an official RECEIPT because "police officer" keep the money for themselves most of the time.

Amazing Thailand, very proud but no shame...

[boggle]

<br />lets not be to quick to blame the bus company for this one. Seems to me that the truck should not have been on the road? Stopped to avoid police check. The bus driver, like most Thai's not a clue how to drive?<br />Condolences to thefamiliess of the dead and Injured. As if there problems aren't enough already.<br />RIP the dead.<br />jb1<br />

<br /><br /><br />

Ever heard of staying a safe distance behind the vehical in front of you?

[afarang]

Never heard of bus es crashing in Western countries? Or other countries? Thailands bus system is actually very ,very safe, if you travel on Government contro;;ed buses. Both Private and government operated buses operating out of Sai Tai Mai Or Ekamai or Morchit Song ,given the huge,and I mean huge number of departures a day are extraordinarly safe. Granted ,the rogue, non licencened By government operators have  serious problems. I have been travelling on long distance buses for more than 21 years, and guess what I am still alive to tell the tale.And will continue to patronise them. So ,stop this bullershit about unsafe bus travel is in Thailand. It is one of the safest countries in the world to travel by bus

[pacovl46]

If the driver had kept his safety distance he would've been able to stop!

[sawadeeken]

Oh, NO! Not another and so soon after the other similar accident. RIP and sympathy to their families. Speedy recovery for the injured.

[moskito]

Never heard of bus es crashing in Western countries? Or other countries? Thailands bus system is actually very ,very safe, if you travel on Government contro;;ed buses. Both Private and government operated buses operating out of Sai Tai Mai Or Ekamai or Morchit Song ,given the huge,and I mean huge number of departures a day are extraordinarly safe. Granted ,the rogue, non licencened By government operators have  serious problems. I have been travelling on long distance buses for more than 21 years, and guess what I am still alive to tell the tale.And will continue to patronise them. So ,stop this bullershit about unsafe bus travel is in Thailand. It is one of the safest countries in the world to travel by bus

LOL ....just because you was never involved in a bus accident doesnt say busses are safe, drivers are good and streets are safe to go 120 kmh with a full bus. I guess I am not the only one who knows how busdrivers in THAILAND behave....king of the roads! Sry, but I just remember ONE accident in Germany in the past years and none in England.....not so many like in Thailand where these accident happen once a month....ask your Thaifriends...

[garrya]

Never heard of bus es crashing in Western countries? Or other countries? Thailands bus system is actually very ,very safe, if you travel on Government contro;;ed buses. Both Private and government operated buses operating out of Sai Tai Mai Or Ekamai or Morchit Song ,given the huge,and I mean huge number of departures a day are extraordinarly safe. Granted ,the rogue, non licencened By government operators have  serious problems. I have been travelling on long distance buses for more than 21 years, and guess what I am still alive to tell the tale.And will continue to patronise them. So ,stop this bullershit about unsafe bus travel is in Thailand. It is one of the safest countries in the world to travel by bus

I have travelled on thai buses numerous times and found no seat belt but ear-piercing thai music from the speakers. There is no such thing that curve as they keep trying to overtake any vehicles on any part of the road. Using the word "extreordinarily safe" for thai bus journeys is a bit odd. The only reason why my wife seldom visits her family is the scare what she feels on the buses as she has experienced a couple of near misses. But luckily we are still alive, but this accidents shows the need of improvement in safety in that industry.

[ttelise]

Haha, why so emotional toward Thailand about bus crashes. Shit happens every where in the world. Thailand doesn't maintain a monopoly on greedy businesses placing profits over people. Fact of life every where in all types of businesses. Haha, nursinghome industry in US I'd more inhuman. Be angry at human nature in general if you are intent on playing blame game.

[garrya]

Haha, why so emotional toward Thailand about bus crashes. Shit happens every where in the world. Thailand doesn't maintain a monopoly on greedy businesses placing profits over people. Fact of life every where in all types of businesses. Haha, nursinghome industry in US I'd more inhuman. Be angry at human nature in general if you are intent on playing blame game.

Being blind and sarcastic doesnt hide the facts. Facts are facts no matter what you think.

[moskito]

Haha, why so emotional toward Thailand about bus crashes. Shit happens every where in the world. Thailand doesn't maintain a monopoly on greedy businesses placing profits over people. Fact of life every where in all types of businesses. Haha, nursinghome industry in US I'd more inhuman. Be angry at human nature in general if you are intent on playing blame game.

garyya typed everything what was worth typing about this.

if you are frustrated about nursinghome industrys in US...I had no idea there is such a thing in the US anyway...thought you have no

healthcare system at all thx to the greedy stock-market-based-health companies

back to topic....and the only reason why not more members typing here is they are not aware of this thread, it came not with the normal mail

this time

[Digitalbanana]

lets not be to quick to blame the bus company for this one. ... The bus driver, like most Thai's not a clue how to drive?

Er, I'd have thought driver competence would be a prerequisite for a bus company?

[jimbeam1]

<br />lets not be to quick to blame the bus company for this one. Seems to me that the truck should not have been on the road? Stopped to avoid police check. The bus driver, like most Thai's not a clue how to drive?<br />Condolences to thefamiliess of the dead and Injured. As if there problems aren't enough already.<br />RIP the dead.<br />jb1<br />

Ever heard of staying a safe distance behind the vehical in front of you?

Well done. My point exactly.

jb1

[jimbeam1]

lets not be to quick to blame the bus company for this one. Seems to me that the truck should not have been on the road? Stopped to avoid police check. The bus driver, like most Thai's not a clue how to drive?

Condolences to thefamiliess of the dead and Injured. As if there problems aren't enough already.

RIP the dead.

jb1

Guess you seems wrong, if the bus was not following so close as they are habit to do, as well as to keep the right side of the

road, this accident will not have happened.

Education is the only key but authority doesn't mind, they play card and drink in their office at the place to make their duty (for what they are paid for).

The only little effort they make is to check motobike for the helmet.... People work and drive the same way they lives eh...

PS: best education is to make very heavy fine (minimum 1000 for those mad drivers, and the delivrance of an official RECEIPT because "police officer" keep the money for themselves most of the time.

Amazing Thailand, very proud but no shame...

Guess seems you not understand? Where in the OP does it say the bus was on the wrong side of the road?

If you care to read my post again. I did say like most Thais, not a clue how to drive. I did not feel the need to comment on all that is bad about the Thai traffic system. Something that I encounter on a daily basis. As for drink in their office, I take it you mean alcohol? I would not know about that, all I can say is that the last time I used one of these buses was from Chaing-Mia to Korat. There, breathalyzedwere breathalised as they signed on for duty. So no drinking in the office there then?

As for the rest of your comments, may I suggest that you send them to the relavent authorities. I am sure they would be pleased to know that you have the answers to their faults.

jb1

[jimbeam1]

lets not be to quick to blame the bus company for this one. ... The bus driver, like most Thai's not a clue how to drive?

Er, I'd have thought driver competence would be a prerequisite for a bus company?

Er. Yes you could well be correct. But the company can not check on drivers all the time that they are on the road.

I do believe that tacho graphs should be introduced, but they would still not stop a driver from tailgating. If in fact that is what he was doing? It certainly looks to me like he was speeding and as stated in the report the Lorry stopped unexpectedly? I consider myself a fairly good driver and have nearly been caught out like that on more than one occasion.

[Digitalbanana]

lets not be to quick to blame the bus company for this one. ... The bus driver, like most Thai's not a clue how to drive?

Er, I'd have thought driver competence would be a prerequisite for a bus company?

Er. Yes you could well be correct. But the company can not check on drivers all the time that they are on the road.

I do believe that tacho graphs should be introduced, but they would still not stop a driver from tailgating. If in fact that is what he was doing? It certainly looks to me like he was speeding and as stated in the report the Lorry stopped unexpectedly? I consider myself a fairly good driver and have nearly been caught out like that on more than one occasion.

Good points. any responsible company involved with transport should have digital tachographs or vehicle tracking of drivers behaviour. As you say it won't stop tailgaters, but trends in erratic accelerating or breaking are usually a sign. Drivers should complete a defensive driving course, and do regular refresh courses. They should be monitored by inspection, using qualified passenger observers. All of this is too much for bus companies fighting for a buck against other competitors where regulations are weak. In the industry I am in, we do all the above safe practices and more in Thailand for our own peace of mind - and job.

Edited December 12, 2011 by Digitalbanana

[Rooo]

I travel by car on regular basis between Suratthani & Bangkok.I have seen many a bus accident, travelling at unsafe speed in my opinion, when you are doing 110 & they pass you like you are standing still.

Driving in the rain & night is another story. Government & private buses all the same.

May the victims RIP.