Van crash kills nine in Chachoengsao, Thailand

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Van crash kills nine in central Thailand

CHACHOENGSAO: -- Nine people were killed when a van crashed into a parked 10-wheel truck early Monday, Thai police said.

Five people were injured in the accident shortly before dawn in Chachoengsao province, 70 kilometres east of Bangkok, Police Lieutenant Pongsak Inpong said.

The van smashed into a truck parked in the emergency lane after attempting to pass a vehicle and swerving too far back to avoid an oncoming car in the opposite lane, Pongsak said.

Source: http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2013_08_26/Van-crash-kills-nine-in-central-Thailand-3554/

-- THE VOICE OF RUSSIA 2013-08-26

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RT @191thailand: 5:30am A passenger van heading to Bangkok crashed into the rear of a truck in Chachoengsao. 9 dead & 7 injured.

RT @191thailand: The passenger van was heading to Minburi. 6 males & 3 females died in the accident in Chachoengsao.

[trainman34014]

RIP those lost and hopes for a speedy recovery for those injured.

This has become so familiar to me living here that it just doesn't shock me anymore; kind of just wake up expecting the next one. Very sad situation.

[NomadJoe]

Yeah, these hardly make the news here they are so common. It would be nice if the Thai police were to do some traffic law enforcement every once and a while.

[Scott]

I travel in that area at least twice a week. There are a lot of accidents. My condolences to the family and friends of the victims. May the injured make a speedy recovery.

Did the driver survive?

[laurentbkk]

Once again , innocent people die because of a stupid driver .. That is not fair at all ....... RIP nothing more to add as nothing will ever change here .

[tomyummer]

The fact that in certain areas and within certain times, cars are allowed to use the emergency lanes. The whole idea just defeats the purpose of these lanes. Often times I almost get clipped by cars and trucks speeding by in that shoulder.

Everyone just needs to 'jai yen yen' a bit while driving.

[Jane Doe]

Rest in peace!

Does the picture show the van? There were 14 people in there?

[WitawatWatawit]

It's a never-ending story, no matter what part of the world you are in. But it wrenches the gut when innocent people die because of one person's arrogance and self-importance. We shouldn't pre-empt the investigation, but I think everyone can guess what happened. A strutting little big man who thinks the sun shines out of his a... decides he wants to get to his destination quickly, and so his passengers' safety becomes irrelevant.

[johnlandy]

RIP those lost and hopes for a speedy recovery for those injured.

This has become so familiar to me living here that it just doesn't shock me anymore; kind of just wake up expecting the next one. Very sad situation.

The only time that I will be concerned is when it is someone 'near and dear' to me.

As for the rest of the population if they are not concerned about their own safety why exactly should I be.

[graeme64]

RIP those lost and hopes for a speedy recovery for those injured.

This has become so familiar to me living here that it just doesn't shock me anymore; kind of just wake up expecting the next one. Very sad situation.

The only time that I will be concerned is when it is someone 'near and dear' to me.

As for the rest of the population if they are not concerned about their own safety why exactly should I be.

WOW. What a comment. how can you be so certain that all 9 people that died where not concerned about there own safety.

One of the worst posts I have ever read.

G

[unanimosity]

Yeah, these hardly make the news here they are so common. It would be nice if the Thai police were to do some traffic law enforcement every once and a while.

What do you mean, they do a very thorough job of fining men for driving while not wearing a shirt.

[AGareth2]

Monday morning

ticket to heaven/hell

It is a nightmare

accidents all the time

They drive like lunatics!

[Mampara]

One of the many reasons why Thailand is fast becoming a hi-risk tourist destination.

[RickBradford]

I travel in that area at least twice a week. There are a lot of accidents. My condolences to the family and friends of the victims. May the injured make a speedy recovery.

Did the driver survive?

According to the Thai press, he survived with serious injuries, and so cannot give a statement.

The cops arrested the lorry driver instead.

There were 16 people in the van - 9 dead, 7 injured.

[Pib]

So sad...RIP. Wishing earliest possible recovery to the survivors.

Precious life is so cheap in Thailand.

[PaulHamon]

fraking idiot drivers.

[MaxYakov]

We shouldn't pre-empt the investigation,

Why not?

"but I think everyone can guess what happened. A strutting little big man who thinks the sun shines out of his a... decides he wants to get to his destination quickly, and so his passengers' safety becomes irrelevant.

Oh you did any way.....

I am not racists BUT......

But what? Heavily-loaded (overloaded?) van, maybe poor suspension, early-morning fatigue, a truck (by convention - but legally?) parked in the emergency lane (shoulder?), an overreaction (oversteer) by a tired driver. Van roulette with bad odds. My odds-maker says the driver didn't survive (Scott) - but apparently he did beat the odds (update).

Condolences to all and a speedy recovery for the survivors.

Edited August 26, 2013 by MaxYakov

[robblok]

If there is one thing I hate its those idiots that come over to your lane and expect you to get out of their way so they can overtake. They do this in blind corners hills ect. Without a police doing some serious policing and just fining motorbikes for not being in the death lane eh i mean left lane. It would be good to see the police do some serious policing and seriously fine guys like that a few 1000 bt.

[mbeau]

In my experience the minivan drivers are consistently among the most undisciplined and arrogantly bad drivers on the highways.

[Asiantravel]

When I was younger going to visit the dentist was what gave me that sickening feeling in the stomach of not knowing what to expect. Now that has been replaced by just the thought of travelling in one of these minivans

[nullx8]

The cops arrested the lorry driver instead.

There were 16 people in the van - 9 dead, 7 injured.

so Stoping on the Emergency lane is a crime now ? great !

16 peoples in a bus licensed for 9 seems to be just fine ...

Blue plate !! not even a commercial vehicle. in the public transportation sense.

as usual, nothing makes any sense.

well i stop use public transportation a long time ago for exactly that reason(s),

bus only if i can see the driver, i skip out of serval minibuses in bkk already because the driver had cleary a death wish.

and all his problem where not at all i did complain his driving (even all the other passengers did agree)

they only did care that i did not pay for 10% of the distance driven.

[sikishrory]

after seeing the video of about 10 charred corpses being pulled from a minivan crash between pattaya and bkk a few months ago it made me a bit weary of vans.

last time i was in one crammed in like a sardine i tried to imagine what i would do if the vehicle crashed and caught fire. truth is there is your chances would be slim.

- driver always locks the doors from his control panel in the front (anyone know why?)

- windows don't slide open far enough for anyone to get out

so your option would be

- to try to scramble for the front door and hope to god it's not locked

-unlock the doors via control panel in front

- break a window

car windows do not break easy.

scrambling for an exit in a van overloaded with luggage and panicked/injured people that is rapidly turning into a incinerator with no way out i think would be an incredibly bad way to die.

Why on earth do drivers insist on locking the doors with the controls in the front all the time? It's not like carjacking is rampant or likely to happen on the trip between pattaya and bangkok!

I don't get minivans anymore only bus. buses arn't exactly safe either but I feel they are better than the above scenario and less overloaded

[mickjn]

Once again , innocent people die because of a stupid driver .. That is not fair at all ....... RIP nothing more to add as nothing will ever change here .

RIP.I agree in toto.Nothing will ever change.

[yourauntbob]

Someday maybe they will address the issues with these vans and buses.........someday.

RIP to the victums

[TechnikaIII]

Sickening - the whole van-crash saga, from the day I first arrived in Thailand in 2010 until now. How many?

But will Thais do anything about it? ....

I will never forget the first ex gf replying to my expression of concern about a news item photo, showing a mangled van and dead bodies, with pools of vehicle and human fluids. She said, referring to the photo: "Why you worry? Is it Takhli van?" Speechless with bewilderment, I retreated.

Edited August 26, 2013 by TechnikaIII

[transam]

Yet another message for possible tourists to LOS to stay clear of traveling in these midi vans. This kind of accident happens here on a regular basis.

Hire a car that you are in control of.

[NongKhaiKid]

I travel in that area at least twice a week. There are a lot of accidents. My condolences to the family and friends of the victims. May the injured make a speedy recovery.

Did the driver survive?

According to the Thai press, he survived with serious injuries, and so cannot give a statement.

The cops arrested the lorry driver instead.

There were 16 people in the van - 9 dead, 7 injured.

IN Channel news at 1200hrs said the driver told police he did not see the lorry and ran into it but it was described as an 18 wheeler. Lots to be considered, it was 0540hrs so still not full daylight, lights or otherwise on the truck and what the van driver was doing.

Another tragedy.

[Benmart]

RIP those lost and hopes for a speedy recovery for those injured.

This has become so familiar to me living here that it just doesn't shock me anymore; kind of just wake up expecting the next one. Very sad situation.

howver

The only time that I will be concerned is when it is someone 'near and dear' to me.

As for the rest of the population if they are not concerned about their own safety why exactly should I be.

I am uncertain if the "rest of the population" is not concerned about their own safety as I haven't seen any research done on the Thai drivers as a whole. I am concerned about everyone's safety, particularly my own when either driving or on foot.

I have seen some very safe drivers in Thailand which is not often mentioned. The reckless ones, however, stand out by their brazen acts of carelessness which can hardly go unnoticed.

Driving habits seems to have improved over the twenty years from my observation. This may be offset by the sheer increase in traffic and the "Time is money" attitude.

[wpcoe]

Just noticed that the OP article is from Russian media. Good that the word is getting out. Too bad the article is so brief, with no reference to how common these mini-van accidents are.