Chinese Tourists Injured In Phuket Bus Crash

[Lite Beer]

Chinese tourists injured in Phuket bus crash

Phuket Gazette –

Phuket rescue workers inspect the vehicle at the bottom of Patong Hill, where it rolled to a stop near the Kathu Shooting Range. Photo: Atchaa Khamlo

Bus driver Boonna Juathaisong (right) told police that the bus lost power while trying to climb the steep incline. Photo: Atchaa Khamlo

PHUKET: More than 10 Chinese tourists were injured as a tour bus ran off the road on Patong Hill yesterday evening.

Tung Tong Police were notified of the crash, at the bottom of the hill near the Kathu Shooting Range, at about 7pm.

Police arrived at the scene to find a tour bus lying on its side beside the road.

Rescue workers were already in the process of transporting 13 Chinese tourists and a tour guide to Patong Hospital.

A 35-year-old Chinese woman was reported as having the most serious injuries, as she was removed from the accident scene with blood running from her ears. The rest of the tourists taken to hospital had only minor injuries.

Bus driver Boonna Juathaisong, 45, from Khon Khen, told police that the bus lost power while trying to climb the steep incline.

The bus rolled down the hill backwards and then off the road at the curve at the bottom of the hill, coming to rest on its side.

Mr Boonna has been charged with reckless driving causing injury, Tung Tong police said.

The Phuket Gazette notes that it is common practice for police in Phuket to charge drivers in any accidents with at least a minor charge while the police investigation is still underway.

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/archives/articles/2012/article12882.html

-- Phuket Gazette 2012-04-28

[seaeagle]

The bus lost power and rolled backwards????????

At the risk of creating speculation, why didn't the driver just put the foot brake, then hand brake on?

[lovetotravel]

The bus lost power and rolled backwards????????

At the risk of creating speculation, why didn't the driver just put the foot brake, then hand brake on?

Some of them have power brakes. Lose power, lose brakes. And if loaded, the parking brake wouldn't stop it on a steep hill. Hope the tourists are all OK.

[bob4you]

foot brake did not work without power, hand brake "never heard of it"

[friendphil]

If the government has some thought of improving the safety standards for public transportation, it's more than a good idea. Especially if they want to increase their tourism and decrease their traffic accidents and fatalities. Seems like a "no-brainer" to me. Like requiring all tourist buses to have periodic safety checks, and tour drivers to have a special license. That, just for starters.

[pacovl46]

foot brake did not work without power, hand brake "never heard of it"

The guy who wrote the hand brake comment is most likely from a German speaking country. They call the emergency brake hand brake over there because it's operated by hand and not by foot like the regular brake.

Edited April 28, 2012 by pacovl46

[Tanaka]

foot brake did not work without power, hand brake "never heard of it"

There is one. Locks the transission and needs air to be released.

[CroBiker]

Isan driver + poorly maintained bus + Patong Hill = recipe for disaster.

[NomadJoe]

foot brake did not work without power, hand brake "never heard of it"

The guy who wrote the hand brake comment is most likely from a German speaking country. They call the emergency brake hand brake over there because it's operated by hand and not by foot like the regular brake.

I don't know about that. I'm an American and parking brake, emergency brake, and hand brake (if it is a parking or emergency brake which is operated by hand as it is in many cars sold in the states) are all common terms to me.

[Fookhaht]

Isan driver + poorly maintained bus + Patong Hill = recipe for disaster.

Racist comment.

At least two unfounded assumptions here, but the most troubling is the first one, that ethnicity is a cause for disasters.

Edited May 2, 2012 by Fookhaht