Four Malaysians Killed In Bus Accident In Thailand

[Jai Dee]

Four Malaysians Killed In Accident In Thailand

BANGKOK, Nov 20 (Bernama) -- Four Malaysians were killed while another 16 injured when a tour bus carrying Malaysian tourists was involved in an accident near the resort town of Chon Buri late yesterday.

A Malaysian Embassy official said they were informed about the accident by Thai authorities this morning.

He said the identity of the passengers were not known yet.

"We were told that there were 20 Malaysians in the bus at the time of the accident," he said when contacted.

Chon Buri, about one and a half hours from here, is not far from the popular tourist town of Pattaya.

Source: Bernama - 20 November 2006

[sriracha john]

The update with further details of the "accident" is extremely sad...

Four Malaysians Die In Accident In Thailand

CHON BURI, Nov 20 -- A year-end family tour turned into tragedy when four Malaysians were killed while another 16 were injured after their tour bus was rammed by a trailer here yesterday.

The dead are Tan Lee Cheng, 42, her 14-year-old son, Goh Sze Chuan, and two more women passengers, Goh Gek Lang,56 and Yee Chai Chow, 61.

All are from Muar, Johor.

Fifteen of the injured are Michell Phua, Lim Pan, 56, Phua Kam Lian, 63, Cynthla Phua, 12, Phua Kam Lai, 47, Ng Hiok Ann, 41, Heng Heong Cher, 50, Phua Bee Kian, 48, Heng Wee Harn, 19, Heng Wee Harn, 19, Phua Kam Huat, 54, Chua Kuang Hua, 60, Lee Voo Kee, 70, Soh Kang Chuang, 60, and Tan Ah Cheok, 59. The last victim's name has yet to be disclosed.

Three of the passengers have been warded in a private hospital here while the rest were given outpatient treatment.

The bus was carrying 20 Malaysians and a local tour guide when it broke down on the Chon Buri-Pattaya highway around 5pm.

Insurance agent Ng Hiok Ann, 41, said they arrived in Bangkok three days ago for a week-long holiday and were travelling to Pattaya when the incident happened.

"After an overnight stay in Kanchanaburi, we had lunch in Bangkok before heading to Pattaya.

The bus broke down twice on the way but the driver managed to repair it but could not do anything when it stalled again near Chon Buri," she said.

As it was very hot, some of the passengers decided to wait outside as the bus was parked by the roadside.

"But suddenly someone shouted that a trailer was coming very fast. It happened so fast that we did not realise that the trailer had rammed the bus and those waiting outside," she said.

Ng said all the dead was those waiting outside, including Tan, who was standing besides her.

"They all had head injuries. The rest of us were lucky to be alive, those in the bus had slight injuries," said Ng whose husband, Phua Kam Lai, a brother in-law and sister-in-law were warded for serious injuries.

Ng, whose three children were inside the bus, said this was the first time that all the family members decided to go on a group tour together.

Lee said his wife, Yee, was conscious after the accident but he could not pull her out from the trailer.

"I tried to pull her out but couldn't. The tow truck came very late to pull her out," he said.

A Malaysian embassy official said they were making arrangements with the Thai tour company hired by the family to bring back the bodies.

-- BERNAMA

[Scott]

I remember a thread a few days ago about some Thai's that were hurt (or killed) in Malaysai, is that right? Is this some kind of sad Karmic event?

[Jai Dee]

I remember a thread a few days ago about some Thai's that were hurt (or killed) in Malaysai, is that right? Is this some kind of sad Karmic event?

See this topic Scott.

[Scott]

Thanks Jai Dee, that's the one I thought.

My condolences to all those affected by both of these tragedies. There are far too many accidents in S.E. Asia.

When we have staff who had to make visa runs--while waiting for their Work Permits--I would not let them all rent a van and go together for that very reason.

[Jai Dee]

4 Malaysians die in bus crash on road to Pattaya

KUALA LUMPUR: A week-long holiday for several families from Muar, Johor, ended in tragedy when four of them were killed and 16 others injured after their tour bus was rammed by a lorry near Chon Buri, Thailand, on Sunday.

The Malaysian embassy in Bangkok identified the dead as Tan Lee Cheng, 42; her 14-year-old son Goh Sze Chuan; Goh Gek Lang, 56; and Yee Chai Chow, 61.

Fifteen of the injured have been identified and three are warded at a private hospital in Chon Buri.

A staff from the embassy said police informed the embassy that the bus ferrying the 20 Malaysian tourists and a Thai tour guide had broken down when it was rammed from the rear on a highway heading towards Pattaya about 5pm.

The official said they were informed that the bus broke down twice after it left Bangkok. After repairs, it continued on its journey only to break down for the third time.

One of the injured, Ng Hiok Ann, 41, told Bernama that they arrived in Bangkok three days ago for a week-long holiday.

"After an overnight stay in Kanchanaburi, we had lunch in the Sky Tower (Thailand’s tallest building) in Bangkok before heading to Pattaya.

"The bus broke down twice on the way but the driver managed to repair it but could not do anything when it stalled again near Chon Buri," she said.

As it was very hot, some of the passengers decided to wait outside as the bus was parked by the roadside.

"But suddenly someone shouted that a lorry was coming very fast. It happened so quickly that we did not realise that it had rammed the bus and those waiting outside," she said.

Ng said all those that died were those waiting outside, including Tan, who was standing beside her.

"They all had head injuries. The rest of us were lucky to be alive and those in the bus had slight injuries," said Ng whose husband, Phua Kam Lai, a brother-in-law and sister-in-law were warded for serious injuries.

Ng, whose three children were inside the bus, said this was the first time that all the family members decided to go on a group tour together.

A Chon Buri police spokesperson said they were investigating the case but declined to confirm reports that the lorry driver was drunk.

In Muar, Tan Soon Heng, who lost his wife and son in the accident, could not control his emotions.

"This was their first trip overseas and they were looking forward to it. It is cruel that it has turned into a tragedy," he said at his Taman Perdana home in Sungai Abong here.

Tan said he knew of the tragedy when someone called on Sunday.

"My brother-in-law left for Bangkok soon after we heard the news. My wife and son are dead now but I want to see their bodies," he said in between sobs.

Chow Hwey, 30, the eldest son of one of the injured, Lee Voo Kee, 70, said his father, a prominent community leader and proprietor of a herbal shop, was accompanying his mother, Yee, on the tour.

"He called me on Sunday night and said that he was all right and would secure the release of my mother’s body as soon as possible.

"He said there was no need for me to fly to Bangkok as he could manage it," said Chow Hwey.

Source: New Straits Times - 21 November 2006

[kmart]

Did the drivers manage to flee the scene successfully?

[sriracha john]

4 Malaysian’s killed in Chonburi to Bangkok Motorway crash.

A terrible accident now from the Chonburi to Bangkok Motorway which claimed the lives of four Malaysian Tourists.

The crash occurred on Sunday afternoon and involved a Coach and a Petrol Tanker. The coach which stopped between the 62nd and 63rd Kilometer markers, experienced a mechanical problem and some of the passengers disembarked and remained on the side of the road. Many remained inside the coach as the group waited for rescue assistance.

The group were traveling from Ganjanaburi Province to the Tiger Zoo in Sriracha. Suddenly a Petrol Tanker approaching at speed ploughed into the rear of the coach as the Malaysian Tourists standing on the side of the road looked on in horror.

The coach slammed into a fence on the side of the road and four of the passengers, all of Malaysian Origin, were killed.

The driver of the tanker decided not to remain at the scene.

that partially answers kmart's question...

Highway Police attended the crash site and have full details of the tanker driver who is now being sought by Police.

The Malaysian Embassy in Bangkok has been informed of the crash and they are conducting their own investigation.

- Pattaya City News

[ratcatcher]

4 Malaysian’s killed in Chonburi to Bangkok Motorway crash.

A terrible accident now from the Chonburi to Bangkok Motorway which claimed the lives of four Malaysian Tourists.

The crash occurred on Sunday afternoon and involved a Coach and a Petrol Tanker. The coach which stopped between the 62nd and 63rd Kilometer markers, experienced a mechanical problem and some of the passengers disembarked and remained on the side of the road. Many remained inside the coach as the group waited for rescue assistance.

The group were traveling from Ganjanaburi Province to the Tiger Zoo in Sriracha. Suddenly a Petrol Tanker approaching at speed ploughed into the rear of the coach as the Malaysian Tourists standing on the side of the road looked on in horror.

The coach slammed into a fence on the side of the road and four of the passengers, all of Malaysian Origin, were killed.

The driver of the tanker decided not to remain at the scene.

that partially answers kmart's question...

Highway Police attended the crash site and have full details of the tanker driver who is now being sought by Police.

The Malaysian Embassy in Bangkok has been informed of the crash and they are conducting their own investigation.

- Pattaya City News

It sure beats the h_ll out of me how any driver can survive a massive impact like that, shoving a heavy bus forward, and with the impetus of the loaded trailer, you'd think the tractor unit's cab would be so crushed the driver could never get out alive. However it seemed Providence smiled upon him and he was successfully "able to F.T.S."

I feel sympathy for the bus driver and his passengers.

Maybe he had not set up his marker cones or triangles or whatever they call them when a commercial vehicle is stopped on the roadside? Maybe the truck driver was in a hurry to get to Pattaya or?

[taxexile]

Maybe he had not set up his marker cones or triangles or whatever they call them when a commercial vehicle is stopped on the roadside?

in thailand they dont use marker cones , they use a small twig with a few leaves on it taken from the verge and placed on the road near the back of the halted vehicle.

[kmart]

Suppose that on the bright side, the petrol tanker didn't overturn and explode....?

Small mercies....