2 killed and 18 hurt in VIP bus crash in Thailand

[webfact]

VIP Bus-Refrigerated Truck Collision Kills two, Injures 18
By Khaosod Online



BANGKOK: -- A bus running from Ranong Province collided into a refrigerated fish truck on Phetkasem Road left two passengers dead and 18 injured.

The truck was found on its side with passenger compartment in wreck and the driver was out on the road with a broken leg. Whereas the 32-seated VIP bus was crushed on the driver′s side with the whole windshield broken as well as the front roll window.

During the crash, witness said they had seen two passengers on the roll flew in the air, hit their heads with the bus′s metal part and got killed. Reportedly, they were not wearing safety belts.

Among the injured, mostly with cuts and bruises, were 13 Thai citizens, four Burmese and one Korean.

The accident led to major traffic on Phetkasem Road, the main expressway route along southern Thailand, both inbound and outbound for more than two kilometres as the two vehicles were blocking the road and were difficult to be relocated.

The cause of this accident, police said, is yet to be investigated. However, a witness claimed the bus was riding on the right side of the road until the fish trunk crossed the lane.

The witness also said that it was fortunately that he has got his safety belt on so he was uninjured.

Source: http://www.khaosod.co.th/en/view_newsonline.php?newsid=TVRNNE16QXpOVGs0TUE9PQ==

-- KHAOSOD English 2013-10-29

[soi41]

Was it just a week ago, that Madame Yingluck said "Your safety is our main concern!!"

Hope those who died didn't suffer!!

[Dr Robert]

object lesson in the value of fitting seat belts and wearing them in transit. horrible accident.

[jaltsc]

Unfortunately this happens so often that it isn't "news" any more. Unsafe vehicles. Careless drivers. Either no seat belts, defective seat belts or no one connected with the bus company makes sure they are being utilized properly. If the government truly cared about road safety they would do a lot more than they are doing now and demand that officials do more than just collect money to ignore infractions.

Edited October 29, 2013 by jaltsc

[laurentbkk]

what else to say ? it has became a habit and it will be strange NOT to have any road accidents .... Daily basis issue .... trains , vans, buses etc ..... just how many dead people the government will accept before to act strongly on road safety ?

[moonseeker]

NO surprise if you watch how these crazy maniacs drive down Sukhumvit!!!! These are criminals, not drivers! And traffic enforcement is a joke. A shame, too. MS>

[Lupatria]

Will they ever learn? No, because life is cheap here- at least the life of others.

[angsta]

Was it just a week ago, that Madame Yingluck said "Your safety is our main concern!!"

Hope those who died didn't suffer!!

Yes, it was certainly the PM's fault that this bus crashed.

Perspective.

[LuckyLew]

Was it just a week ago, that Madame Yingluck said "Your safety is our main concern!!"

Hope those who died didn't suffer!!

Yes, it was certainly the PM's fault that this bus crashed.

Perspective.

In fact she is to blame

She runs the current government and they have yet to address the issue of driver training proper safety standards and enforcement of a proper driving code. Until the government acts in a correct fashion these type of accidents will continue

Time for the people in power to take action instead of being solely concerned about bring home the a hole from dubuy

[ginjag]

Was it just a week ago, that Madame Yingluck said "Your safety is our main concern!!"

Hope those who died didn't suffer!!

Yes, it was certainly the PM's fault that this bus crashed.

Perspective.

Complete review of all driving tests and licenses scrutinized. if not all the new drivers will end up in the statistics.

[Dararasmi]

Shame. Tragedy. (A broken leg will keep the driver from fleeing the scene.)

[jes]

They are all Helldrivers on drugs.

[Tatsujin]

object lesson in the value of fitting seat belts and wearing them in transit. horrible accident.

More an object lesson in the value of life here.

[Dr Robert]

object lesson in the value of fitting seat belts and wearing them in transit. horrible accident.

More an object lesson in the value of life here.

yes, you are right, unfortunately.

[wprime]

VIPs don't catch buses.

[Redhawk]

They talk a lot but do nothing, there are enough BIB running around who could be taken for bus inspections but instead they watching gold shops, if the transporation departement just would control as much as possible busses for just one week laying out high fees for disobeying laws regarding safety and put the bus out of service just at the roadside, the operators would change their minds quickly especially when the paxes start complaining. Run a bus in Germany having no functional seat.belts and your bus would be held at the control point until it is repaired or a substitution comes by. It is a desastrous year regarding accidents for Thailand.

[JustAnotherFarang]

I was on the same road last night driving back from Chumphon to Ranong just a few minutes behind the bus and although I did not witness the accident itself I was caught up in the pandemonium and the traffic backlog that ensued. The scene of the accident was on a very tight corner by the waterfall in Kra Buri where the entire stretch of road has no street lighting and there is very little room for opposing traffic. The police and a few ambulances where quickly on the scene as the accident occurred about 1km from Kra Buri hospital but as we continued our journey home (via a back road before rejoining Petkasem road) we seen countless ambulances and rescue trucks racing dangerously to the scene from Ranong which is 60 km away.

The Petkasem road running from Chumphon to Ranong is very very dangerous for those who do not know how to traverse it (especially at night) and is known as the road of a thousand bends. The vast majority of the road is unlit and some of the bends are notoriously tight causing many accidents to occur to those who are not aware of the dangers. There is also an increased danger at the moment due to roadworks being done to increase the width and quality of the roads. The bus driver and the fish truck driver would have been aware of the dangers but traffic from Chumphon to Ranong was surprisingly light last night and I think that the bus driver was maybe taking advantage of the empty roads to quickly arrive back in Ranong.

JAF

[gemini81]

Was it just a week ago, that Madame Yingluck said "Your safety is our main concern!!"

Hope those who died didn't suffer!!

That was the wrong script she was reading from. That comment fits more appropriately with her brother facing karma.

Unfortunately, this current group can't be relied upon to improve the driving/roads/policies, especially down to the local level. All we can do is try to avoid using this type of transport as much as possible; vans, buses, trains particularly.

[gp2002]

It's always the innocent passengers who lose their lives. Why do the stupid drivers always live through these accidents?

[Johnnie99]

A fish trunk?

[arminbkk]

Well at least the mention of safety belts is on the increase, in the article at least a passenger comments on it, which he will probably also do in the Thai language news,

thereby increasing awareness positively, even if only a little bit.

These big VIP buses usually drive very fast.

Before the apologist come in force, we know accidents happen everywhere, but it is clearly very common here.

[ezzra]

While not dismissing any lose of life due to road accidents and such, we must remember

that this is a nation of 60 millions plus with hundred of thousands of roads users of all shape

and kind at any given moment every day, accident do and will happened at any given moment,

however, better road education and road rules enforcement will not be a miss....

[slipperylobster]

Well at least the mention of safety belts is on the increase, in the article at least a passenger comments on it, which he will probably also do in the Thai language news,

thereby increasing awareness positively, even if only a little bit.

These big VIP buses usually drive very fast.

Before the apologist come in force, we know accidents happen everywhere, but it is clearly very common here.

..crystal

is it company policy to squeeze as many trips out of one bus and driver per shift. that is crystal as well.

[wirat69]

Perhaps he was another test driver for the new right hand driving rule??

[kkup]

I remember the post about flights in Thailand a few months ago and someone saying it is better to go via bus. I think about 40-50 ppl have died in bus accidents since then.

[Forethat]

And there are those on this forum who praise these buses and think of them as a much better alternative than drive your own car ...

[Straight8]

geeezus, every 3rd thaivisa email i get it delivers the news of a bus crash. Makes one start to question traveling in them.

[DocN]

a) a refrigerated truck? Really?

some of you are really using this to boil a political - soup on it? That is disgusting!

c) RIP the victims.

[Fullstop]

2 killed and 18 hurt in VIP bus crash in Thailand

ZZZzzzzzz

[yingyo]

Time for Thai bus companies to hand out full-face motorcycle helmets with their complimentary water and face towel.