Ten Dead, 17 Injured In Surat Thani VIP Bus Accident

[BuddhistVirus]

May all the victims be freed from suffering, find liberation and peace.

Om Mani Padme Hum.

Speedy recovery to the injured.

Tayata

Om Bekandze Bekandze

Maha Bekandze

Radza Samudgate Soha

Edited July 3, 2012 by BuddhistVirus

[realfunster]

Oh dear, another tragic crash. It does seem these happen all too often.

I saw the remnants of another multiple fatality bus crash a few weeks ago. Google- bus crash eastern seaboard industrial estate. 8 dead and driver fled the scene...again !

Didn't see it discussed on here at the time but it was reported in the 'other' newspaper.

[maidu]

Popped tire is an excuse that might fly. Just as likely it's not true or partially true. Most bus drivers speed. Nearly all drive badly. Some doze off at the wheel. Some are drunk. Most chat while driving. All of 'em swerve across the median line.

Over a quarter century of being in Thai buses, I have some insight in to how they're driven.

[pacovl46]

I prefer the train whenever possible. You can walk around, buy some food, smoke and they go soooo slow that the risk of dying in a crash is virtually zero. R.I.P. lads!

[happyaussie]

Having done several long haul bus trips in Thailand in recent years. This is no surprise. I have had many a white knuckle ride.

Buses go way over the speed limit, especially at night and overtake over hills around corners and any other crazy place.

Drivers work long shifts and no doubt many rely on certain substances to keep them awake.

The tires are a fair point and possible.

And it's not the roads. Thai roads are not European motorway standard, but they're not bad at all. Even B roads are in pretty good nick. I just hate the way road works is never signposted.

Condolences to all involved.

[Bsd]

Quote:

l... Why only the unidentified bodies to be autopsied?

I am guessing that autopsied is shorthand for forensically identified, depending on the condition of the bodies it may not be possible to just compare the face to the ID card/passports. So comparing dental x-rays, blood types, etc.

[TinoThailand]

shocking... sad news for all involved. Is that Sombat - or do they all have pink blankets?

I think they are blankets, what is Sombat?

[ttelise]

Sheesh, if a Grey Hound in the US has a blow out with deaths, they would pay through the nose. Legal liability is an excellent deterrent to negligent and indifferent conduct and ensuring drivers are properly trained and well rested.

I am sure bus crashes happen in US, but I cannot recall one recently causing deaths. A little while back one up New Jersey leaving a casino crashed and some folks got killed. This was all over CNN and national news networks. Seems like we read about bad bus and van crashes causing many deaths on an almost monthly basis on Thai Visa.

Edited July 3, 2012 by ttelise

[chainarong]

Sincere sympathy to all those involved. C

[Payboy]

How is it known that a tire caused the accident?

Most likely started with the invention of the wheel.

RIP

[TinoThailand]

Having done several long haul bus trips in Thailand in recent years. This is no surprise. I have had many a white knuckle ride.

Buses go way over the speed limit, especially at night and overtake over hills around corners and any other crazy place.

Drivers work long shifts and no doubt many rely on certain substances to keep them awake.

The tires are a fair point and possible.

And it's not the roads. Thai roads are not European motorway standard, but they're not bad at all. Even B roads are in pretty good nick. I just hate the way road works is never signposted.

Condolences to all involved.

Yea they drive up too 150 with the big new busses (Volvo can). The mini vans up too 180, here you have seatbelts but it won't matter much sometimes...

[travelmann]

As for the accident, could be a host of reasons but once again we have multiple deaths on the roads, a weekly occurrence.

It is all well and good checking the tyres etc but that does not then account for some 16 year old moron ploughing into you etc. You could be on the safest bus in the world but of the driver has the lack of training and has passed the pathetic test in Bangkok you are always at risk.

Finally! My search has ended! i am packing my bags and heading to that country with no accidents! Need to catch a cab to the airport, ummm...where is that please?

Get real, Thailands accident rate ( and accident really is the wrong word) is one of the worst in the world, but if you are like my wife you will now say "NO" India is worse, oh well thats alright then isnt it.

Most accidents are driver error.

[jshorts]

My experience with Transport Co. buses has generally been very good. Like Nakhon Chai Air they operate modern VIP buses, with the 24 seaters being the best of the best I believe. While it is too early to be sure, it is possible that it was just bad luck, something on the road, or perhaps a faulty tire.

Either way, let's hope that pending the results of an investigation, Transport Co. as a professional outfit, will implement whatever changes are necessary to reduce the chances of this happening again.

Or maybe the driver fell asleep.

Or, maybe the driver had a heart attack.

Or, maybe the driver was drunk.

Or, maybe the driver was high.

Or, maybe the driver blacked out.

[jaywalker]

I visited Phangan once in 2005....Had a grand time with my wife & we conceived a very pretty (she's almost 7 now) daughter there.

We bought tickets from Samui to Phangan on a "High-Speed Modern Catamaran"........Nope. Typical thugs loaded 50 of us into a giant mono-hull. We made it OK, but at night I could see boat lights RACING back & forth from Phangan to Samui. Quit dramatic to watch as our room was on a hill side.

One of the boats had his steering cable break at 35 or 40 knots & killed 6 people while we were there. The boat was rated for 2 engines & had installed a 3rd one.

Basically 3 each 200 hp engines clipping along full throttle........OK as long as you are going in a straight line.

The steering cable broke & the boat capsized.

Why the Thai press differentiates between foreigners & Thai's when people die is beyond me. They were all HUMAN, right????

From the looks of that bus, he must have been doing 160 kph or better to do that much damage.

Sad story for sure.

[thailand49]

Being a former trainer in commercial driving. Living here and having a habit of looking at commercial vehicles on the road along with their driving habit obviously there are no rules for daily inspection if so no enforcement as usual.

When it comes to a commericial bus or large vehicle transport it is standard practice to fill out a daily log that is kept on the vehicle for inspection if the vehicle is stop for inspection. This log would require the driver to do a " walkaround " checking off specific items which in this case would have been the tire. A trained driver would have noticed the wore tire or tires and required them to be change and a simple hard wack of the tired with a tire iron would cause the tire to burst resulting in wore and overinflated tires.

Of course none of this makes a different if people believe it isn't necessary or just don't give a rat ass! Vip or not Vip!

[BobbyLambo]

RIP to the poor souls who lost their life. And a speedy recovery to those injured. Our love and thoughts in Australia are with you all. What a tragedy.

[ttelise]

I visited Phangan once in 2005....Had a grand time with my wife & we conceived a very pretty (she's almost 7 now) daughter there.

We bought tickets from Samui to Phangan on a "High-Speed Modern Catamaran"........Nope. Typical thugs loaded 50 of us into a giant mono-hull. We made it OK, but at night I could see boat lights RACING back & forth from Phangan to Samui. Quit dramatic to watch as our room was on a hill side.

One of the boats had his steering cable break at 35 or 40 knots & killed 6 people while we were there. The boat was rated for 2 engines & had installed a 3rd one.

Basically 3 each 200 hp engines clipping along full throttle........OK as long as you are going in a straight line.

The steering cable broke & the boat capsized.

Why the Thai press differentiates between foreigners & Thai's when people die is beyond me. They were all HUMAN, right????

From the looks of that bus, he must have been doing 160 kph or better to do that much damage.

Sad story for sure.

Yeah, that bus is jacked up bad. Dang. Really hard impact.

[hullupullo]

The company saying faulty tire is easy to do, because they don't push their drivers beyond a ten hour day, then stop to rest oh no they push them

to drive, drive, drive, until either this happens, or worse.

Everytime I have took transport co bus on long ride, they have 2 drivers. And this news said there were 3 company employees so I assume 2 drivers and 1 who take care passangers

[g00dgirl]

Even if the bus was in perfect condition, there are potholes on the main highways that are unreal. I drove between Phuket and Chumpon or Phuket Bangkok several times in the past, once I had a tire burst shortly after a wide and deep pothole and another time the wheel needed replacement because it was bent, and that was only on sedans with 1 - 2 passengers.

The condition of the the main road especially around Chumpon and Surat Thani is very bad Very sad.

[Ferangled]

My experience with Transport Co. buses has generally been very good. Like Nakhon Chai Air they operate modern VIP buses, with the 24 seaters being the best of the best I believe. While it is too early to be sure, it is possible that it was just bad luck, something on the road, or perhaps a faulty tire.

Either way, let's hope that pending the results of an investigation, Transport Co. as a professional outfit, will implement whatever changes are necessary to reduce the chances of this happening again.

Or maybe the driver fell asleep.

Or, maybe the driver had a heart attack.

Or, maybe the driver was drunk.

Or, maybe the driver was high.

Or, maybe the driver blacked out.

Or maybe a small pink alien jumped out in front of him and thumbed a lift... we could go on all day...

The report however clearly states "According to the initial investigation, the front right tire burst, causing the driver to lose control and the bus hit the electric pole at full speed."

Why the need for the excessive speculation all the time? We might as well argue that it wasn't a bus it was a jetski <deleted>. I guess anything that would distort the facts and give more leeway for some baseless Thai bashing eh?

[jaywalker]

Being a former trainer in commercial driving. Living here and having a habit of looking at commercial vehicles on the road along with their driving habit obviously there are no rules for daily inspection if so no enforcement as usual.

When it comes to a commericial bus or large vehicle transport it is standard practice to fill out a daily log that is kept on the vehicle for inspection if the vehicle is stop for inspection. This log would require the driver to do a " walkaround " checking off specific items which in this case would have been the tire. A trained driver would have noticed the wore tire or tires and required them to be change and a simple hard wack of the tired with a tire iron would cause the tire to burst resulting in wore and overinflated tires.

Of course none of this makes a different if people believe it isn't necessary or just don't give a rat ass! Vip or not Vip!

I have to agree with you Mate!

I worked a LOT in maintenance and commercial + military driver training over the last 25+ years.

My Dad was a Timber contractor in Florida......His crew cut the trees & hauled them to the sawmill.

I recall being on the job with him in the early 1970's and seeing his truck drivers walking around the trucks, inspecting the tires every time they left with a load.

Just common sense, but then again, that tends to be the most uncommon kind.

[Captor]

I would say that the bad roads in Thailand is the major problems. They are in bad condition and also the roads ara badly planned.

Not to mention all this U-turn possibilitys. And that people can cross the "highways" and that they are going in trough the city´s as well.

And the lack of trafficsigns. For example how many sign is there to see about speeding... not to many.

I believe the Thai governements (all of them) have saved money to long now building this shitty roads.

Maybe the buss drove in to a pothole in the road. And maybe the tire wasn´t to fresh. There are so many possibility in Thailand to end up in a traffic accident.

Also the driver license schools are a joke! And this "it happens not me" mentality that all thai people have? Or is it a buddist thing?

When the tourists stop coming to Thailand due to the risk of dyuing in the traffic. Then, and first then, the governments will do something about it.

But for now, to much money ends up in the pockets of corrupted politicians instead of building good roads.

[Razzler1973]

Terrible news.

I remember there being 2 drivers sometimes but in the old times just one guy all the way through with his M-150 but things have changed since then.

If I go anywhere long distance now I tend to either fly or get the train. I prefer the train to the bus all day long, more comfortable for starters in those sleepers and I can never sleep on buses or planes. Not a fan of overnight coaches at all

[arkom]

My experience with Transport Co. buses has generally been very good. Like Nakhon Chai Air they operate modern VIP buses, with the 24 seaters being the best of the best I believe. While it is too early to be sure, it is possible that it was just bad luck, something on the road, or perhaps a faulty tire.

Either way, let's hope that pending the results of an investigation, Transport Co. as a professional outfit, will implement whatever changes are necessary to reduce the chances of this happening again.

I would agree, used to do the Bangkok to Phuket route twice a month on the 24 seater bus and never had any problems.

Edited July 3, 2012 by arkom

[crazykopite]

First can I say get well soon to those injured and RIP to those who were killed in this terrible accident Having lived on the islands for over 6 years I have used the bus a number of times on route to Bangkok and whilst they were always clean and tidy sometimes I worried about the speed it would travel and also the driver's forever on their mobiles or talking to there co drivers rather than paying attention to what was in front of them. By the look of the damage I can only think that the bus was travelling at some speed my thoughts and prayers are with those all involved in this terrible accident.

[travelmann]

My experience with Transport Co. buses has generally been very good. Like Nakhon Chai Air they operate modern VIP buses, with the 24 seaters being the best of the best I believe. While it is too early to be sure, it is possible that it was just bad luck, something on the road, or perhaps a faulty tire.

Either way, let's hope that pending the results of an investigation, Transport Co. as a professional outfit, will implement whatever changes are necessary to reduce the chances of this happening again.

Or maybe the driver fell asleep.

Or, maybe the driver had a heart attack.

Or, maybe the driver was drunk.

Or, maybe the driver was high.

Or, maybe the driver blacked out.

Or maybe a small pink alien jumped out in front of him and thumbed a lift... we could go on all day...

The report however clearly states "According to the initial investigation, the front right tire burst, causing the driver to lose control and the bus hit the electric pole at full speed."

Why the need for the excessive speculation all the time? We might as well argue that it wasn't a bus it was a jetski <deleted>. I guess anything that would distort the facts and give more leeway for some baseless Thai bashing eh?

If you read it all it also says the driver may have fallen asleep so stop speculating yourself

[sobriquet]

RIP. So sobering. I have taken the 999 bus dozens of times to see my friends in Phangan - it was/is my favourite way to get to the islands. Racing to Sai Tai Mai to make it to the bus on time after work, settling into the blanket, with the free juice and all the other snacks, stopping for 'express' meal and loo visit amid hundreds of others, then waking to dawn at the pier....

SIncere condolences to the families of the deceased.

[Scott]

An off-topic post has been deleted.

[travelmann]

My experience with Transport Co. buses has generally been very good. Like Nakhon Chai Air they operate modern VIP buses, with the 24 seaters being the best of the best I believe. While it is too early to be sure, it is possible that it was just bad luck, something on the road, or perhaps a faulty tire.

Either way, let's hope that pending the results of an investigation, Transport Co. as a professional outfit, will implement whatever changes are necessary to reduce the chances of this happening again.

I would agree, used to do the Bangkok to Phuket route twice a month on the 24 seater bus and never had a problems.

Does that mean you didnt end up in a ditch or dead............. well that is good then isnt it, mind you dead folk never argue much............. or do you mean the driver gave signals checked mirrors didnt hog the outside lane didnt speed, didnt make calls whilst driving, wasnt drunk wasnt a few centimetres from the vehicle in front, only drove for a few hours then had a rest, had two drivers, didnt have the music on so loud he would be oblivious to anything else etc etc

[Boater]

Inhave taken this bus many names , and even if the bus is in good condition , it still is an accident waiting to happen ..

2 factors

1) the bus drivers go to fast ! Sometime 140 !! These buses need to be regulated to a set speed like Europe

2) no seat belts ! And the seat belts in the new buses are padlocked away ! How many deaths \ injurys could be avoided if everyone had worn a seatbelt ?

Rip tom the souls who have lost their lives , but when an event like this happens , the Thais need to look at ways to prevent or minimize the risk of it happening again !