One dead, 39 injured as bus flips and demolishes bus shelter in Songkhla

[snoop1130]

One dead, 39 injured as bus flips and demolishes bus shelter in Songkhla

 

 

One woman died and many more were injured when a bus carrying local officials flipped in the rain on a bend in Songkhla.

 

The driver lost control, hit a tree, then completely demolished a "sala" style bus shelter by the side of the road.

 

Medics and foundation staff had to break windows and enter through the roof to extract the victims.

 

 

 

The staff, mostly women of the Pratamnak Taksinratniwet of Naratiwat province, were on their way back in a three vehicle convoy from a meeting in Bangkok.

 

The accident happened near a bend in the Asia Highway after a hill in the Thepha district.

 

Dead at the scene was Maneerat Thongjan.

 

The injured, seven of whom had serious injuries, were taken to two area hospitals. Later some were transferred to hospitals in Hat Yai.

 

Source: http://www.dailynews.co.th/regional/540060

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2016-12-01

[Just1Voice]

Brakes failed, I'm sure. 

 

[Thaiwrath]

35 minutes ago, Just1Voice said:

Brakes failed, I'm sure. 

 

 

Rain. End of story.

[daveAustin]

The ethos here: well, I normally go around the corner at that speed and there's no problem. 

[webfact]

One palace official was killed and 39 others injured in road accident

 

 

SONGKHLA: -- One official of the Taksin Palace in Narathiwat was killed and about 39 others injured when a tour bus in which they were travelling was involved in a road accident in Thepa district of Songkhla on Thursday.

 

Police said that as the double-decker was descending downhill, it failed to negotiate a curve and skidded out of the road and rammed into a roadside tree and a roadside pavilion before it overturned.

 

Died at the scene of the accident was Mrs Maneerat Thongchan and 39 others who are mostly officials of Taksin Palace in Narathiwat. A police official however said he suspected slippery road surface was blamed for the accident.

 

Full story: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/one-palace-official-was-killed-and-39-others-injured-in-road-accident/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2016-12-02

[jimstar1]

Did this not happen Yesterday  and the day before and the day before  etc etc tc etc Nothing new here RIP poor lady

[DoctorG]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

A police official however said he suspected slippery road surface was blamed for the accident.

 

Nope. Not driving to road conditions caused this accident.

[fxe1200]

"...the double decker failed to negotiate a curve." (!!!!)

[mettech]

The driver most likely did not liked this bus shelter. Driving here in Thailand is like driving in a jungle be aware of all around you.Buses are a bit bigger.

[Sphere]

The article doesn't say.....did the driver tip-toe away to hide from a lynch mob?   

[fred007]

Once again no accountability by the Thai Government to pass any stringent  laws regarding  driving laws in this country.

...................................................So Nothing Will Ever Change Period...................................................................................

[Borzandy]

Why did not the crowd try to lynch the driver? This would be necessary and justified.

[Emster23]

It seems bus companies go out of their way, search high and low, for the worst possible drivers....

[Lokie]

Rain,

 

RIP to the unfortunate lady who lost her life

[Honthy]

surprisingly enough this bus has good tires...

 

RIP to the unfortunate Lady

Edited December 2, 2016 by Honthy

[Bangkok Barry]

Two things need to happen to stop the carnage on Thai roads.

1 - Establish a real driving test that involves knowledge of how to drive in traffic and adapt to the conditions, not to adopt a me-first attitude, to show respect for other road users etc.

2 - Enforce the law.

 

Neither will happen so the carnage will continue and we will continue to take our lives in our hands every time we take to the roads.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Doesn't name the bus company involved.  And no mention at all of the driver -- injured, ran away, tested for drugs/alcohol?

 

No, none of that, just a police official blaming a slippery road.  Disgusting.

 

[kannot]

14 hours ago, daveAustin said:

The ethos here: well, I normally go around the corner at that speed and there's no problem. 

The  even better ethos is  that the next time that particular  driver goes  round  the same bend in anew  bus  you will get the same  result and he'll still be scratching his head wondering why

[kannot]

1 hour ago, Emster23 said:

It seems bus companies go out of their way, search high and low, for the worst possible drivers....

Unlimited supply  I  would  think

[poohy]

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

a three vehicle convoy from a meeting in Bangkok.

 

I.e  most probably driving too fast for conditions sadly simply driver error

[kannot]

Hmmm  look at the photo....................wheres  the "bend" exactly??

[toofarnorth]

There have been far to many slippery roads lately about time bus drivers went on strike , same with hills and bends , too many of those as well.

[AlphMichaels]

15 hours ago, Thaiwrath said:

 

Rain. End of story.

I'd inject "driver error" and/or incompetence (pick em) in tandem with....,   

[SunsetT]

Anyone know the time of the accident?  Another night time accident or not?

[cruisemonkey]

1 hour ago, Bangkok Barry said:

Two things need to happen to stop the carnage on Thai roads.

1 - Establish a real driving test that involves knowledge of how to drive in traffic and adapt to the conditions, not to adopt a me-first attitude, to show respect for other road users etc.

2 - Enforce the law.

 

Neither will happen so the carnage will continue and we will continue to take our lives in our hands every time we take to the roads.

 

How do I set my computer to automatically post 'And the carnage continues...' everyday on ThaiVisa?

[elgordo38]

3 hours ago, Emster23 said:

It seems bus companies go out of their way, search high and low, for the worst possible drivers....

They want cheap labor what do you expect. Cheap labor is the new business mantra. What is the cost of the loss of life looking at recent settlements?

Edited December 2, 2016 by elgordo38

[farcanell]

5 hours ago, jimstar1 said:

Did this not happen Yesterday  and the day before and the day before  etc etc tc etc Nothing new here RIP poor lady

 

No no no.... they were different buses.... i know it all sounds the same... even looks the same... but they were different buses.

[David Walden]

Very much enjoying my stay in Thailand and for the last 6 weeks but I have made the motorbike journey on a Monday Cha-am to Hue Hin and return. This week I handed my motor bike back and decided the catch the mini bus too and from to Hue Hin.

The Cha-am to Hue Hin leg had its moments like one passenger with child next to me they wanted to get off about half way.  So from the middle lane travelling about 120kph she calls stop!!!  So across 3 lanes we stop in the motorbike lane (far left), smoke coming from the tyres we stop.  Me being polite and having the middle seat, I stand up so the lady can get by me to get OFF only to find I am on my head upside down in the seat in front.  As the driver had gone past the bus stop, after stopping he suddenly reversed at full throttle about 50kph for about 300 metres. A bit of pride lost managed to smile.  This apparently normal in Thailand.

THE RETURN TRIP TO CHA-AM…I believe it is one of the silliest things I have ever done in my life is to take this trip.  it about 25km.  The forward trip bad enough but the return trip for this Toyota Mini Bus even in heavy traffic going from inside to outside lane repeatedly was always at full throttle.  Starting in 2nd gear, gear changers were only made at maximum revs, motor screaming!  Not a single vehicle passed us on this trip every vehicle in front of us we passed like they were standing still.  There was one moment when a group of young lads in a large pickup played a game with us but gave up when we hit 140kph.  On the straight sections once out of town the vehicle was on maximum revs and sat on 140kph.  On approaching Cha-am the bus changed lanes at least 10 times at high speed until a great moment in my life when I arrived at the Cha-am bus stop ALIVE.

Does anyone know why Farangs don’t like travelling in Mini buses???  I think bus drivers are paid a bonus depending on how quickly they can make the journey?

 

 

   

 

Edited December 2, 2016 by David Walden

[little mary sunshine]

Will these freaken drivers ever learn to slow down....

especially in the rain.....!

[superdome]

19 hours ago, Just1Voice said:

Brakes failed, I'm sure. 

 

As an ex London bus driver[1966/1980]...i have a good idea why it went over...most people were upstairs on the bus...giving it a "top heavy" weight problem...so going round a bend make it very easy to topple over...i went on the skid patch in Chiswick[training centre for London bus drivers at the time]....Thai drivers would s....t themselves if they had to do that[i know...i nearly did my 1st time on it]....but bloody good training....i rest my case