Car accident kill six students and injured 19

[Thaising]

Car accident kill six students and injured 19 others

PRACHIN BURI: -- A 10-wheeled truck slammed into a pickup truck packed with students on Tuesday morning, killing six children and injuring at least 19 other people.

The fatal accident took place only a stone's throw away from Kabin Wittaya School, where most passengers would have got off.

Two students, 14-yearold Atchana Neya and 13-year-old Narongdej Srisanga, were killed at the scene. Four other victims succumbed to their injuries at a local hospital. They were between 13 and 17 years old.

As of press time, 19 other victims including the pickup driver Boonsong Poraso remained hospitalised - some of them with serious injuries.

Pol Captain Paisin Kaewsikhao of Kabin Buri police station said police were now looking for the truck driver, Somporn Pornsri, who fled the scene after the accident.

Somkid Chompoopetch said he was driving in the opposite lane when he saw the speeding truck crash into the pickup, which was about to make a Uturn to drop off students at Kabin Wittaya School.

"Due to the impact of the crash, the pickup careered into my vehicle," Somkid said. Somkid's pickup was also damaged in the accident.

The Education Ministry said each injured student would receive Bt6,000 compensation while the family of each victim killed would receive Bt60,000 under an insurance scheme.

Basic Education Commission deputy secretarygeneral Areerat Wattanasin said her office would provide Bt2,000 financial assistance to families who lost their child in the accident and Bt1,200 for each injured student.

--The Nation 2006-06-20

[John K]

Why do the words "fled the scene after the accident" almost always appear when someone is hurt?

It does not say much for the logical thinking process. Does that not add an additional charge?

[meemiathai]

Why do the words "fled the scene after the accident" almost always appear when someone is hurt?

It does not say much for the logical thinking process. Does that not add an additional charge?

Not sure if you are serious with your question? I guess the simple logic here is if he stays, we would just have to add 1 more fatality to the incident. TIT.

[John K]

I am serious, they know who he is... Will he die after? I am a bit confused. It tends to defy logic.

[Galong]

As horrible and horrifying as this is, I'm surprised that it doesn't happen a bit more often. Here in Phuket at least, these school pickup drivers often do things that endanger their passengers. An example would be pulling out when the driver is ready, not when it's safe to pull out. I don't know why they have mirrors when they don't seem to use them.

Having young people hanging off of the back of a bus would get the driver thrown in jail in many countries. It seems to be acceptable here.

"the family of each victim killed would receive Bt60,000 under an insurance scheme." Wow, this tells you how much they value life here... my heartfelt condolences go out to the families who lost their children. What a horrible disaster.

I hope they find the driver soon. Yes, I do think that the driver would have been killed at the scene of the crime.

[Johpa]

Why do the words "fled the scene after the accident" almost always appear when someone is hurt?

Drivers flee the scene as per instructions of the vehicle's owner.

[george]

Update:

Six schoolchildren killed in Kabinburi highway accident

PRACHINBURI: -- Six schoolchildren were killed Tuesday in a road accident in Kabinburi District of Thailand's eastern province of Prachinburi.

The accident occurred when a minibus transporting 25 students of Kabinwittaya School was making a turn into the school gate and was hit at high speed by a ten-wheel lorry which was trying to overtake it.

The accident left two schoolgirls instantly dead at the scene and four other students--two boys and two girls--were declared dead on arrival at hospital.

Six children were seriously injured and taken to the central provincial hospital, while 13 others with less serious injuries have been admitted to district hospital.

Deputy Education Minister Rung Kaewdaeng expressed deep sorrow over the incident, saying it was one of the highest-profile accidents that has ever happened to schoolchildren.

He said road accidents involving schoolchildren occur from time to time, with reckless driving being the major cause.

He said the ministry would revise standards of transport for schoolchildren.

The ministry has sent officials to assist families of the schoolchildren killed in the accident; while the provincial Red Cross office and an insurance company obliged by the students' group insurance policy have initially provided financial aid of Bt3,000 and Bt20,000 respectively for each of the families suffering from the loss of their children, he said.

--TNA 2006-06-20

[Netfan]

The second horrible traffic accident in a couple of days. Tragic. I saw some film of the scene on Thai tv tonight. Scary. It is too bad the driver fled the scene, this is one case where community justice would have been, well, justice.

BTW, it's just a matter of time before this same story comes out of Hua Hin. We have 10 wheel construction trucks flying thru town throughout the day. Never seen one of them stopped.

[Scott]

I am not sure of the particulars of the accident, but I am wondering why there is an automatic assumption that the 10-wheel driver was in the wrong? I see these "Baht-busses" and school busses driven in an unbelievably dangerous manner. Some school busses have to make 2 or 3 runs in the morning (and afternoon) and this puts them under considerable pressure.

As for "fleeing the scene," it's probably the best thing to do. I saw the police arrest a guy (not a traffic accident). The guy was handcuffed and a group of people (between 10-15--mostly motorcycle taxi drivers) then proceeded to kick the crap out of him. The policeman, just stepped aside and let them go. This guy had to have had near fatal injuries. In the short time I was present (I was stuck in traffic), they were stomping and kicking him as hard as they could.

All this said, I do hope there is some form of justice for those responsible and also I want to give my deepest sympathies to the families of the dead and injured.

[Scott]

Oops, I just saw the newspaper and it said the songthaew was hit from behind--which would likely make the driver of the 10-wheeler guilty.

[ando]

Ian sure that most of us here have at some time sat in the back of a bahtbus, crammed in with 15 or 20 other people flying down the highway, and wondering what would happen if we were involved in an accident.

Thai driving etiquette is pretty much essential in the city to keep the traffic moving, but out on the highway, with the higher speeds involved it can get pretty dangerous. It should come as no surprise that these kinds of accidents happen. I traveled six hours up country in the back of a pickup one Songkran and we passed a couple of accident scenes in that short period alone. I am sure some people would have died in those wrecks.

I have great respect for the Thai road etiquette for slow moving traffic in the city, but out on the highway it just doesn't work. Passing on the inside at 140kph and sitting 10 feet off the back bumper of the car in front at the same speed is a recipe for disaster. I just close my eyes or have another beer when I travel on the highway with a Thai driver.

As for the truck driver fleeing the scene, I am not sure I wouldn't do the same thing if it meant the difference between facing "community justice" and possible death at the scene or facing a court, where in truth it may not have been his fault at all.

[wrestler7902002]

My heartfelt condolences to the families of the injured and killed.

I hear its a common thing for people involved in serious accidents to simply flee from the accident.

It this sort of thing would happen in some other countries, especially America, there would have been at least 20 lawyers at the scene. Lawsuits would be filed, millions of dollars to awarded to each of the victims' families.

How do they determine who was at fault for this horrific incident. Don't the Thai police normally ask themselves who could have avoided the accident in the first place. In America, if you get hit from behind, you automatically win. Baht buses are very dangerous to ride in, especially when they are way over-crowded with people hanging out from the back. It's an accident just waiting to happen.

But again, this is Thailand...............

[Thaising]

10 WHEELS TRUCK HIT ANOTHER SCHOOL VAN THIS MORNING IN KORAT PAK CHONG DISTRICT. According to channel 3 noon news, 1 killed and several serious injuries.

Edited June 21, 2006 by Thaising

[Scott]

Road safety is really a serious issue. I just read about the Nakon Rachasima accident as well. I don't know when the authorities are going to decide enough is enough and start enforcing the laws.

[Old Geezer]

BTW, it's just a matter of time before this same story comes out of Hua Hin. We have 10 wheel construction trucks flying thru town throughout the day. Never seen one of them stopped.

While I haven't been to LoS for a few years, unless my memory has totally degraded...the ONLY way you'd see the Highway Police stop a speeding 10 Wheeler would be if it hit the Palm Tree they were napping under!

NO Disrespect meant of course to the victims & my sincere condolences to their families...O.G.