Two dead after Phuket bus crashes on Patong Hill

[webfact]

13 Russians injured in tourist bus accident in Thailand

PHUKET: -- Thirteen Russian citizens were injured in a road accident involving a tourist bus. The group was travelling near Patong beach on Phuket Island in Thailand, Southeast Asia, said Consul at the Russian Embassy in Thailand, Andrey Dvornikov on Sunday.

“The tourist bus was carrying about 50 people. Thirteen Russian citizens were injured. Two Thai citizens on the bus were reported dead. No Russian citizens are reported dead yet,” he said.

The diplomat noted that, according to preliminary reports, the bus driver had lost control of the wheel. “Injured people are being taken to the hospitals.

The Russian Embassy is keeping the situation under control,” he added. Local media reported that a bus carrying tourists had struck a lamp post.

The logotype of the tourism company, Natalie Tours, can be seen on photos from the accident site, as the tourist bus had most likely belonged to this tourism company.

An upsurge in road accidents is reported on roads in Thailand ahead of the New Year holidays.

The growth in the number of road accidents is said to be due to higher levels of travelling by local residents in the country during the holiday period, December 27 through to January 2 is dubbed the ‘seven dangerous days’ in the Southeast Asian kingdom.

In the first two days of this period, 86 people have already died in seperate road accidents.

Source: http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2013_12_29/13-Russians-injured-in-tourist-bus-accident-in-Thailand-0605/

-- THE VOICE OF RUSSIA 2013-12-30

[Somtamnication]

Senseless, unneeded and very very preventable.

[SaamBaht]

Is the Thai media just starting to report these things?

[eezergood]

When will the govt actaully do something? enforece real safety checks for goodness sakes......

[NamKangMan]

When will the govt actaully do something? enforece real safety checks for goodness sakes......

People have been dying from road accidents on Patong Hill for years, yet nothing has ever really been done to address the situation.

The bus in the photo appears to be quite new, like most of the buses. For some accidents, lack of maintainence has been the cause, but for most accidents, it's driver awareness and training that is the cause. It appears to be the case with this accident.

These drivers have 50 people's lives in their hands, as well as other road users, yet they simply do not put the bus in low gear and let the compression of the motor edge them down the hill. They accelerate down the hill, and then wonder why the bus doesn't pull up in time. It's basic physics, and these drivers haven't got a clue.

The problem is, in such a corrupt society, particularly on Phuket, where are you going to get honest, Department of Land Transport officials who WILL NOT grant a licence to someone who is incapable of safe driving?

A short term fix maybe having police "escort" these buses over the hill, so the bus MUST drive slow. This would increase journey times, but would save lives.

You question is valid - when are they going to do something? How many more must die before something is done?

Once again, for those expats that think it just a tourist problem here - that could have been you, and your family, in the grey sedan.

[Suffinator]

No doubt bad spirits and they'll be building a condo to house them all. You would think (thinking be the operative word) that with the amount of buses crashing on Patong Hill they would learn.

[eezergood]

When will the govt actaully do something? enforece real safety checks for goodness sakes......

People have been dying from road accidents on Patong Hill for years, yet nothing has ever really been done to address the situation.

The bus in the photo appears to be quite new, like most of the buses. For some accidents, lack of maintainence has been the cause, but for most accidents, it's driver awareness and training that is the cause. It appears to be the case with this accident.

These drivers have 50 people's lives in their hands, as well as other road users, yet they simply do not put the bus in low gear and let the compression of the motor edge them down the hill. They accelerate down the hill, and then wonder why the bus doesn't pull up in time. It's basic physics, and these drivers haven't got a clue.

The problem is, in such a corrupt society, particularly on Phuket, where are you going to get honest, Department of Land Transport officials who WILL NOT grant a licence to someone who is incapable of safe driving?

A short term fix maybe having police "escort" these buses over the hill, so the bus MUST drive slow. This would increase journey times, but would save lives.

You question is valid - when are they going to do something? How many more must die before something is done?

Once again, for those expats that think it just a tourist problem here - that could have been you, and your family, in the grey sedan.

Thats what I was thinking, how would I feel if that was my wife/family?

All jokes aside, with regards to corruption, but at what point will they say enough is enough?

[Valentine]

When will the govt actaully do something? enforece real safety checks for goodness sakes......

People have been dying from road accidents on Patong Hill for years, yet nothing has ever really been done to address the situation.

The bus in the photo appears to be quite new, like most of the buses. For some accidents, lack of maintainence has been the cause, but for most accidents, it's driver awareness and training that is the cause. It appears to be the case with this accident.

These drivers have 50 people's lives in their hands, as well as other road users, yet they simply do not put the bus in low gear and let the compression of the motor edge them down the hill. They accelerate down the hill, and then wonder why the bus doesn't pull up in time. It's basic physics, and these drivers haven't got a clue.

The problem is, in such a corrupt society, particularly on Phuket, where are you going to get honest, Department of Land Transport officials who WILL NOT grant a licence to someone who is incapable of safe driving?

A short term fix maybe having police "escort" these buses over the hill, so the bus MUST drive slow. This would increase journey times, but would save lives.

You question is valid - when are they going to do something? How many more must die before something is done?

Once again, for those expats that think it just a tourist problem here - that could have been you, and your family, in the grey sedan.

Conspicuous by their silence is the latest protestation of shock, horror from someone in authority along with the usual expletives of we are going to do this & that to make our roads safer but then nothing really happens. People are dying needlessly all the time because of apathetic officialdom.

[andreandre]

A video of the crash...the small silver car was totalled....didn't know what hit him...

EDIT...that crash barrier did a bloody good job...amazing how it deflected that bus..

But unfortunately there was a car between it and the bus.

Yes , i fully realise that , as i posted .A video of the crash...the small silver car was totalled....didn't know what hit him....

i was just pointing out that the crash barrier worked as it was designed to do..quite amazing....and a rarity in most cases around here.

That took a head on impact from a 15-18 tonne bus travelling at about 50kph and that makes for quite an impact force..yes?

PS.. the two on the bike must have seen their lives flash before their eyes.....so very lucky to miss them .

Edited December 30, 2013 by andreandre

[eezergood]

Why is retirement in Thailand 55, yet I constantly see drivers of these vehivles that are considerably older than this? Do we have an upper age limit?

Edited December 30, 2013 by eezergood

[QuiteIntelligent]

Bring on the 5000 Russian tourist agency boycott of Thailand.

[NamKangMan]

Bring on the 5000 Russian tourist agency boycott of Thailand.

Why should they boycott the whole of Thailand????

The transport BS is only happening on Phuket.

[webfact]

UPDATE:

Runaway Phuket tour bus leaves two dead, 26 injured
Phuket Gazette

PHUKET: -- Seven people remain in hospital after a runaway Phuket tour bus slammed into five vehicles, including one motorcycle, killing two people and leaving 26 others injured late yesterday afternoon.

The bus same to a stop after ramming a concrete barrier at the bottom of Patong Hill near Wat Suwankiriwong (map here), explained Patong Police Superintendent Chiraphat Pochanaphan.

“The driver lost control of the bus, which hit other vehicles and stopped after hitting a power pole,” Col Chiraphat said.

“Khanrat Kajornjit, 47, who was the driver of a Toyota Vios that was struck by the bus, and Panthida Jaruwat, 40, the tour guide who was sitting at the front of the bus, were both killed in the accident,” he said.

On board the bus were 15 Russian and 14 Thai tourists who were picked up from Phuket Town, Col Chiraphat explained.

“Most of them suffered cuts in the accident,” he said.

“We were told that the brakes failed as the bus descended the hill into Patong. We are investigating to confirm whether or not this is accurate,” Col Chiraphat added.

The Phuket office of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) confirmed that of the 26 people rushed to Patong Hospital, 11 Russians and eight Thais have been discharged.

The following people remain in hospital receiving treatment:

1. Chanchai Nuisanga, 36, the bus driver

2. Somsak Setwatcharawanit, 61

3. Yupadee Sae-Pao, 75

4. Yolia Phillipova, 31

5. Alexandra Lobatyuk, 22

6. Polina Kolamrov, 32

7. Anastasia Gerasimova, 29

Source/video: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket_news/2013/Runaway-Phuket-tour-bus-leaves-two-dead-26-injured-Video-23130.html


-- Phuket Gazette 2013-12-30

[madmitch]

When will the govt actaully do something? enforece real safety checks for goodness sakes......

People have been dying from road accidents on Patong Hill for years, yet nothing has ever really been done to address the situation.

The bus in the photo appears to be quite new, like most of the buses. For some accidents, lack of maintainence has been the cause, but for most accidents, it's driver awareness and training that is the cause. It appears to be the case with this accident.

These drivers have 50 people's lives in their hands, as well as other road users, yet they simply do not put the bus in low gear and let the compression of the motor edge them down the hill. They accelerate down the hill, and then wonder why the bus doesn't pull up in time. It's basic physics, and these drivers haven't got a clue.

The problem is, in such a corrupt society, particularly on Phuket, where are you going to get honest, Department of Land Transport officials who WILL NOT grant a licence to someone who is incapable of safe driving?

A short term fix maybe having police "escort" these buses over the hill, so the bus MUST drive slow. This would increase journey times, but would save lives.

You question is valid - when are they going to do something? How many more must die before something is done?

Once again, for those expats that think it just a tourist problem here - that could have been you, and your family, in the grey sedan.

OK, maybe not on Patong Hill, but you must have seen the speed the police escorted buses travel at! Remember police drivers think they can drive as quickly as possible and the buses just follow them. There will be a major accident involving these motorcades one day.

But at least it's a positive thought, something that Thai officials seem unable to master.

[belg]

evil spirits ?

yes, lets blame it on them

all to the temple

did the bus not get the monk ceremony for protection (money)

[Sam Gold]

i have no idea what can be done outside of banning big bus's and trucks, but than they will attempt the Kamala/Kalim hills

What can be done is hiring professional drivers and maintaining buses.

[Halion]

Again and Again and AGAIN. Yes it is a steep and winding decent into Patong however the fault lies squarely with the lack of driving skills combined with reckless attitude.

[bangarang]

Yet another good reason to start the construction of the long awaited tunnel.

[Bikkii]

Not again........

[eezergood]

Yet another good reason to start the construction of the long awaited tunnel.

I hope that was tongue in cheek???????

[pcgeekz05]

"Blame the Evil Spirits" They are responsible for all the accidents in Thailand... and let them run the government too!

[sandhurstmolonski]

Its Just so very Dangerous on the Roads in Thailand , yet few really appreciate just how dangerous .

Even if you avoid Driving/ Riding you are drawn in by Third party participation . Riding a Bike down this hill is Scarey enough ,

I reckon its even more Dangerous on these Tour Buses , certainly the Driver education is inadequate .

Mini Bus Drivers , Grow up to Drive Tour Buses ..and oHH my God , you are taking your life into your hands by just being a Part of it ,

So many of these drivers take this particular hill at Crazy Speeds , despite the fact that the Speed wont get then Anywhere quicker at all ,

There is a general " Jam " at the bottom in Late Afternoon .

What is quite amazing is that ONLY 2 were killed , just unlucky if you are one of the 2 . RIP .

[sandhurstmolonski]

Why is retirement in Thailand 55, yet I constantly see drivers of these vehivles that are considerably older than this? Do we have an upper age limit?

I think Some of the Older Ones are the More Skilled to be Honest .

But the bottom line is " Older v Younger " , the training is simply inadequately for the Skills required to drive a vehicle like this one .

Not Sure the Retirement age Matters ...Also , when Im in Aussie , I feel safer with an Experienced Bus Driver .

[tonypace02]

I don't ever recall seeing the name of any bus company's name, tourist or otherwise, being published when one of their vehicles was involved in a fatal accident. Correct me if I am wrong.

[tonypace02]

Whenever I ride a bus in Thailand, and I do ride them often, I always avoid the first three rows. Usually, there is nothing between the first row and the windshield/windscreen except about six feet of space and for many people involved in bus accidents, this space is truly the final frontier.

[LivinginKata]

I don't ever recall seeing the name of any bus company's name, tourist or otherwise, being published when one of their vehicles was involved in a fatal accident. Correct me if I am wrong.

That's not correct. Often times the bus compnay name is published. In this case it was Natalie Tours.

"The Natalie Tours bus reportedly lost control when going down the hill, hitting cars and motorbikes in its path before crashing at the bottom."

[NamKangMan]

I don't ever recall seeing the name of any bus company's name, tourist or otherwise, being published when one of their vehicles was involved in a fatal accident. Correct me if I am wrong.

That's not correct. Often times the bus compnay name is published. In this case it was Natalie Tours.

"The Natalie Tours bus reportedly lost control when going down the hill, hitting cars and motorbikes in its path before crashing at the bottom."

Pegasus buses are frequently named as well.

[Wavnarok]

seems this hill has accidents more an more this past year than previously

i have no idea what can be done outside of banning big bus's and trucks, but than they will attempt the Kamala/Kalim hills

Compulsory manteinance of those kind of vehicles ? Anual inspections ? etc.... of course even with Brembo brakes once lost control going down the hill is in god hands , but at least.......

[NomadJoe]

Why is retirement in Thailand 55, yet I constantly see drivers of these vehivles that are considerably older than this? Do we have an upper age limit?

Because at retirement Thai people get 500B a month.

[NomadJoe]

I would be willing to bet that the angle of the slope into Patong is beyond these buses manufactures recommended limits when loaded.