Tour bus overturns in Khon Kaen. One killed, 28 injured
Thai PBS

THAILAND -- One passenger was killed and 28 others injured when a Si Sa Ket-bound tour bus from Nong Khai overturned on Mitrapap Highway in Khon Kaen province on Thursday.

Pol Capt Pornchai Saengsila, a highway police officer, said the accident occurred at about noon between kilometre markers 398-399 in the adjoining area of Muang and Nam Phong districts.

Police learned from survivors that the accident occurred when the bus driver, Yuthana Nilkham, stooped down to pick up his mobile phone, causing him to lose control of the bus. The bus slid into the road mediun and overturned.

One passenger, Pairat Chaiyarat, 30, of Udon Thani’s Muang district, was killed, and 28 others were injured.

The injured were rushed to nearby hospitals.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/tour-bus-overturns-in-khon-kaen-one-killed-28-injured

-- Thai PBS 2015-12-31

>>Police learned from survivors that the accident occurred when the bus driver, Yuthana Nilkham, stooped down to pick up his mobile phone, causing him to lose control of the bus<< Quote

Darwinism in action...........Not a thought given to the fact, that he was responsible for the safety of many other people.........

Looking at the state of the bus, I am surprised there was only one fatality, although it does not report how badly injured the survivors are.

What the hell was he doing with his mobile phone, whilst driving a bus full of passengers, especially on a major highway, notorious for vehicles speeding ?

Looking at the state of the bus, I am surprised there was only one fatality, although it does not report how badly injured the survivors are.

What the hell was he doing with his mobile phone, whilst driving a bus full of passengers, especially on a major highway, notorious for vehicles speeding ?

What was he doing? Just being a typical Thai bus driver.

I was right about the bus crash last week.

It wasn't the last one of this holiday.

So irresponsible to play around with a mobile while speeding along.

Looking at the state of the bus, I am surprised there was only one fatality, although it does not report how badly injured the survivors are.

What the hell was he doing with his mobile phone, whilst driving a bus full of passengers, especially on a major highway, notorious for vehicles speeding ?

.

.

Using a mobile phone whilst driving is the norm.

I was right about the bus crash last week.

It wasn't the last one of this holiday.

So irresponsible to play around with a mobile while speeding along.

.

.will be plenty more, it ain't started!

And what about the driver? Ran away as usual?

Thai Bus Driver Flips Bus Killing 1 Injuring 29, trying to Pickup his Cell Phone

KHON KAEN – Pol Capt Pornchai Sangsila of Khon Kaen Highway police station has reported that one passenger has been killed and 28 others injured after the driver of an inter-provincial bus bent down to pick up his mobile phone in the foot-well and lost control of his vehicle.

Pol Capt Pornchai Sangsila told the Bangkok Post the Bus driver Yutthana Ninkham was driving a 32-seat VIP bus carrying 29 passengers on Mittraphap Highway when Mr Yutthana dropped his phone near his feet and leaned over to retrieve it while doing so, the bus veered off the road and plunged into a road median and overturned.

Full story: http://www.chiangraitimes.com/thai-bus-driver-flips-bus-killing-1-injuring-29-trying-to-pickup-his-cell-phone.html

-- Chiang Rai Times 2016-01-01

Typical Thai mentality, the phone is my god .never mind the road

I was taking a bus from Phitsanulok to Khon Kaen a few years ago and noticed the driver with his feet up on the steering wheel clipping his toenails. At one point during the trip, the bus swerved hard and the driver hit the brakes throwing everybody forward. there was a collective gasp. I didn't see what happened.

The following week, the same bus crashed on that route, killing several. The bus passed a spirit house along Highway 12 just before it crashed. People blow their horns as they pass. The driver neglected to do so on this trip, according to the survivors. Many Thais theorized that this was the reason for the crash. I was relieved to learn that the crash was not caused by dangerous driving or equipment failure, although the driver WAS negligent for failing to toot his horn. The next time I take that trip, I'll bring along one of those marine horns that operates on a can of compressed gas so I can take care of the toot myself.

I was taking a bus from Phitsanulok to Khon Kaen a few years ago and noticed the driver with his feet up on the steering wheel clipping his toenails. At one point during the trip, the bus swerved hard and the driver hit the brakes throwing everybody forward. there was a collective gasp. I didn't see what happened.

The following week, the same bus crashed on that route, killing several. The bus passed a spirit house along Highway 12 just before it crashed. People blow their horns as they pass. The driver neglected to do so on this trip, according to the survivors. Many Thais theorized that this was the reason for the crash. I was relieved to learn that the crash was not caused by dangerous driving or equipment failure, although the driver WAS negligent for failing to toot his horn. The next time I take that trip, I'll bring along one of those marine horns that operates on a can of compressed gas so I can take care of the toot myself.

"... so I can take care of the toot myself."

The word "toot - "dtut - ตุ๊ด- " in Thai has an interesting meaning, similar to your avatar.,

So simple an answer to this and insuring it never happens again. By law, bus drivers shall be required to turn off and stow their "personal" phones while driving with NO EXCEPTIONS. If the argument comes back from bus companies that they must communicate with terminal or dispatchers, install 2-way radios w/voice activation (hands free) OR have them call at a given stop. This is a no-brainer.

Post signs in bus for passengers to report any driver using their phone (and other actions that constitute dangerous driving) immediately by dialing a 4 digit number. One strike "termination" policy for any who break the rule.

Hey, it's the 1st day of the new year..., OK to dream a bit about some of the right ways to do things here. I had a New year "no more litter" dream earlier as I walked the beach. Happy New Year all. Be safe, healthy, and love your life in 2016.

Edited January 1, 201610 yr by AlphMichaels

This should apply to van drivers as well

Is the phone OK? Not damaged I hope.

Why doesn't the 2 words "COMMON SENSE" exist in the Thai vocabulary?

I was taking a bus from Phitsanulok to Khon Kaen a few years ago and noticed the driver with his feet up on the steering wheel clipping his toenails. At one point during the trip, the bus swerved hard and the driver hit the brakes throwing everybody forward. there was a collective gasp. I didn't see what happened.

The following week, the same bus crashed on that route, killing several. The bus passed a spirit house along Highway 12 just before it crashed. People blow their horns as they pass. The driver neglected to do so on this trip, according to the survivors. Many Thais theorized that this was the reason for the crash. I was relieved to learn that the crash was not caused by dangerous driving or equipment failure, although the driver WAS negligent for failing to toot his horn. The next time I take that trip, I'll bring along one of those marine horns that operates on a can of compressed gas so I can take care of the toot myself.

"... so I can take care of the toot myself."

The word "toot - "dtut - ตุ๊ด- " in Thai has an interesting meaning, similar to your avatar.,

Kind of you to point that out. Happy New Year!

Why doesn't the 2 words "COMMON SENSE" exist in the Thai vocabulary?

They do, it is simply that Thais do not always see and do things the way we westerners do.

There is a word, logical , that may work.

http://www.thai2english.com/dictionary/common.html

http://www.thai2english.com/dictionary/sense.html

http://www.thai2english.com/dictionary/logical.html

Trying to address this at the driver level is pointless in Thailand. Most are not trained, let alone intelligent, empathetic nor diligent.

The only way to address this, IMHO, is by severely punishing the bus company owners as it is, ultimately, them that allow these mongrels to be hired, untrained, untested and largely unconscious to carry their fare paying passengers in order to maximise their bottom lines.

Monitor and test the owners and you'll soon see a tleast a little improvement once their revenues start to suffer.

Why doesn't the 2 words "COMMON SENSE" exist in the Thai vocabulary?

They do, it is simply that Thais do not always see and do things the way we westerners do.

There is a word, logical , that may work.

http://www.thai2english.com/dictionary/common.html

http://www.thai2english.com/dictionary/sense.html

http://www.thai2english.com/dictionary/logical.html

"It's just an honest mistake" worked at their highest level of intelligence... I have my doubts!

So simple an answer to this and insuring it never happens again. By law, bus drivers shall be required to turn off and stow their "personal" phones while driving with NO EXCEPTIONS. If the argument comes back from bus companies that they must communicate with terminal or dispatchers, install 2-way radios w/voice activation (hands free) OR have them call at a given stop. This is a no-brainer.

Post signs in bus for passengers to report any driver using their phone (and other actions that constitute dangerous driving) immediately by dialing a 4 digit number. One strike "termination" policy for any who break the rule.

Hey, it's the 1st day of the new year..., OK to dream a bit about some of the right ways to do things here. I had a New year "no more litter" dream earlier as I walked the beach. Happy New Year all. Be safe, healthy, and love your life in 2016.

And don't forget the 'no toenail clippers' law, and the proscription against cooking/eating Mama noodles while driving, etc...

This should apply to van drivers as well

"Bus driver Yutthana Ninkham was driving a 32-seat VIP bus carrying 29 passengers"

but this was a "VIP" bus with 3 empty seats. Lucky really because he managed to injure all of the passengers according to the OP.

Bet the passengers really feel "VIP".

The bus slid into the road mediun

What's a mediun? Can't find the word anywhere. Presumably a crash barrier?

The bus slid into the road mediun

What's a mediun? Can't find the word anywhere. Presumably a crash barrier?

You won't the word is median.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Median_strip

.....'Sorry I dropped my phone'.....

Looking at the state of the bus, I am surprised there was only one fatality, although it does not report how badly injured the survivors are.

What the hell was he doing with his mobile phone, whilst driving a bus full of passengers, especially on a major highway, notorious for vehicles speeding ?

.

.

Using a mobile phone whilst driving is the norm.

as is in the rest of the world...please be honest do you use your phone when driving? Honestly I have and do.

the meaning is down a ditch, busses crash all the time, I can never drive from chanthaburi to surin without seeng at least 1 crash, on the stretch between chantaburi and na yai am evrytime it rains there is a crash, I just accepted it

NEVER take a life unless you are prepared to give up yours in return.

The big problem is lack of personal responsibility and accountability among many Thai peoples I think

they are shit drivers mostly, I drive that stretch of road between chanthaburi and na yai am and as I said everytime it rains there is one or two vehicles in culverts, but the funny thing is I have to stop because the rain is so heavy and the thais just continue on driving blind

Looking at the state of the bus, I am surprised there was only one fatality, although it does not report how badly injured the survivors are.

What the hell was he doing with his mobile phone, whilst driving a bus full of passengers, especially on a major highway, notorious for vehicles speeding ?

.

.

Using a mobile phone whilst driving is the norm.

as is in the rest of the world...please be honest do you use your phone when driving? Honestly I have and do.

Since they made it an offence at home, no I haven't, nor do I here.