Minivan, bus and road accidents

[Frank Hovis]

More motoring mayhem - a big bus this time.
Picture : http://www.khaosod.co.th/view_news.php? ... RBMU5nPT0=
Translated : http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/transpo ... h-torn-off

The roof of a double-decker coach full of foreign tourists was torn off after it hit a height restriction barrier designed to stop tall vehicles using the flyover bridge on Phetchaburi Road in Bangkok’s Makkasan district, injuring 12.

The accident occurred at around 9.30pm Tuesday and was reported to Makkasan police station. Pol Lt Chakraphob Chimpuengpanao and the rescue team rushed to the scene, according to a report in Khaosod.

A total of 12 people were injured, including 10 German tourists, the tour guide and the driver. All were taken to Rama 9 Hospital.

[buksida]

Not a minivan but just as bad ...

Bus Crash Injures Dozens Of Russian Tourists
A tour bus accident in Nakhon Pathom province has left at least 40 Russian tourists injured.

Witnesses said the double-decker bus operated by Jiratkan Company collided into the back of a traveling 18-wheeler truck in Kampangsan district on Sunday before sliding off the road, causing many of 50 Russian passengers, as well as their tour staff, to be slightly injured.

Some of the wounded were later sent to a hospital. No serious injury has been reported.

Mr. Somphon Lao-sa, the driver of the bus, told our correspondent that he had previously taken the tourists from Pattaya district in Chonburi province to Kanchanaburi province.

The bus was en-route back to Pattaya on Prataen – Kampangsan Road, when the truck, which was travelling in front of the tour bus, suddenly slowed down, Mr. Somphon said. The bus driver then tried to stop the bus, but it hit into the truck and eventually slid off the road.

The tour staff reportedly helped tourists to leave the bus before contacting the tour company to send another bus and pick up the uninjured passengers to their destination.

Source: Khaosod

[Terry]

......... when the truck, which was travelling in front of the tour bus, suddenly slowed down, Mr. Somphon said. The bus driver then tried to stop the bus, but it hit into the truck..........

So - the pratt of a bus driver was driving too fast, too close.............

Surprised?

[Gérard]

Just watch this :


Amazing Thailand ???

[tonymaroni]

Amazing Thailand indeed!
What happened to Mai Bpen Rai?
I guess that is a selective thing that doesn't apply to road safety.

Tony

[Homer]

I've never seen anyone intentionally crack the whip with a semi. Somebody needs to add a bit of music to the end of the video. Obvious choice is 'Whip It' by Devo.

When a problem comes along
You must whip it
Before the cream sets out too long
You must whip it
When something's goin' wrong
You must whip it

Now whip it
Into shape
Shape it up
Get straight
Go forward
Move ahead
Try to detect it
It's not too late
To whip it
Whip it good

[PeteC]

Another really sad report. The bus was filled with students and teachers on a field trip. No indication yet if bus or truck fault. Assuredly more reporting to follow as just happened at 0500 this morning.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews ... d-teachers

[Big Boy]

Just watch this :


Amazing Thailand ???

D E F I N I T L Y N O T M Y V I E W

I've shown the video to 2 Thais this morning. They both agreed the van driver was at fault .

Their logic being that the van driver should know that people who drive trucks get angry quickly. Thai logic - TIT.

[hhfarang]

Maybe this will bump Thailand up to number 1 above Nambia... very sad. I don't let my wife drive to Issan alone any more. Now she takes a combination of airport bus, plane, and rental car there or family member's car. More expensive and a hassle and still includes a bus ride and some driving in Issan but still far safer than driving all the way (12 hours) on Thai highways.

[PeteC]

Another really sad report. The bus was filled with students and teachers on a field trip. No indication yet if bus or truck fault. Assuredly more reporting to follow as just happened at 0500 this morning.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews ... d-teachers

This version from The Nation says the bus slammed into the rear of the truck.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakin ... 28027.html

[Nereus]

I feel sick reading this. It could very well be any of our kids lost. I do not know what can be done about this type of accident, but there is something very wrong with this country when this type of "accident" is happening nearly every week. RIP poor kids.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/3 ... -bus-smash

15 killed, 45 hurt in student tour bus crash .........................................

[caller]

Absolutely shocking. What is needed to actually force someone to act?

And if the guy wasn't licensed to drive the bus, how on earth was he allowed to?

Two reports:

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/01/world ... .html?_r=0

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-26366332

[charlesh]

Passing on the left in a service.emergency stop lane, merging left without signalling, failing to stop at an accident, unsafe load and that's just for starters.
Everyone knows that Thais are not alone in thinking that they are Ayrton Senna (but then he's dead).

[usual suspect]

My step-daughter has just been on a school-trip for a day from Nong Ki in Buriram district.
Now the buses left the school at 3.00am..to go to Lopburi only 3+hrs away..3.00am??
Then we had to go back to the school to pick her up on their return..this was at 11.30pm!
I hope the drivers got some kip in their hammocks that day while the kids were doing their stuff..?
(The bus that crashed must have set off quite early also if the collision time was around 5.00am).

[oakdale160]

I know an expat who insisted that his thai wife take driving lessons and take a driving test in the UK, before he would let her drive here. She rarely does, she is so horrified by the driving.