19 Dead In Two Traffic Accidents

Nineteen dead, dozens injured in two road accidents in Thailand

BANGKOK - Two nighttime road accidents in northeastern Thailand have left at least 19 people dead and dozens injured, a police official said.

A public bus veered off a road and overturned shortly before midnight Monday in Nakorn Ratchasima province's Sikiew district, killing 12 people and injuring 25 others, police Maj. Somchai Jaisoongnern said.

An initial investigation showed that the driver of the bus, which was traveling from Bangkok to Udon Thani province, apparently fell asleep at the wheel, Somchai said.

The second accident, also in Nakorn Ratchasima, occurred shortly after midnight on Tuesday morning when a minivan packed with passengers collided head-on with an 18-wheel truck in Wang Nam Khiew district.

Fire engulfed the minivan and fatally burned seven people, including the driver, and injured eight others, police said.

Police were investigating the cause of the accident, Somchai said.

All of the victims in the two accidents were Thais.

Nakorn Ratchasima province is about 210 kilometers (130 miles) northeast of Bangkok.

--AP 2004-01-13