Heavy rain blamed for Phang Nga bus accident

Phuket Gazette

Rescue workers pulled the driver and 15 injured passengers from the bus. All are likely to leave hospital today suffering only minor injuries. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: -- Police assess that heavy rain caused a bus carrying 20 passengers from Haad Yai to Phuket to overturn on a curve in Phang Nga yesterday, injuring 16 people.

Lt Col Sanae Aukod of Phang Nga Town Police received notice of the accident, at the Phu Nga Thani curve, in Takdad, Muang, Phang Nga, at about 6pm.

Police accompanied by rescue teams from Wat Gao and Phu Nga arrived at the scene to find the bus on its side in a roadside drainage ditch.

Rescue workers extracted the driver and the 15 passengers trapped inside the bus and took them to Phang Nga Hospital for treatment.

Four escaped completely unharmed.

Col Sanae told the Phuket Gazette this morning that 16 people were treated for minor injuries.

“Most have already been discharged from hospital. However, doctors are keeping five patients with limb injuries in for observation. They will probably be discharged later today,” he said.

“The bus driver was not drunk,” said Col Sanae, adding that Wiwat Jakkaratch, 43, from Phattalung was an experienced driver.

“The road surface was wet and slippery. The bus lost traction when going into the curve and flipped onto its side,” he said.

Source: http://www.phuketgaz...dent-16768.html

-- Phuket Gazette 2012-08-27

Surprised the driver didn't do a runner.

Sent from my HTC Legend

Of course it was,

BUT, any of us heavy goods vehicle drivers know, and are taught, that is where our professionalism comes to play, read the road, your load is paramount to take care of.

Wonder how many other vehicles passed the same point, during the rain storm without going into the ditch? Those rainstorms are real hazards to drive thru,, especially when your not on the roadway.

Everyone was trapped until freed by rescue personel, so driver could not do a runner.

"Excessive speed in heavy rain blamed for Phang Nga bus accident"

The only way heavy rain can cause a bus to overturn is if the road turns into a raging river.

Idiotic driving (while it was raining) caused the bus to overturn. Not the rain.

Have to agree with everyone, the driver was going too fast for the conditions.

Absolutely you lot, untrained driver trying to meet a schedule, know doubt.

yet another bus accident............gonna hire a car for my next run for sure...........Russian Roulette with these so called drivers.......

Absolutely you lot, untrained driver trying to meet a schedule, know doubt.

Until log books are used/enforced along with rule of law, drivers only allowed to drive so many hours a day with at least one day off per week, & not being forced to meet unrealistic schedules will this situation ever change. The frequency of bus accidents in this country seems to be quite high & most likely rampant corruption is another cause.

Heavy rain blamed for Phang Nga bus accident

Earths' ecosystem unsuitable for human habitation.