Woman killed in tourist van-train crash

[PeteC]

Yet again.... Photos at the link. Pete

Woman killed in tourist van-train crash

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews ... rain-crash

Published: 25 Feb 2013 at 15.55
Online news:

KANCHANABURI - A woman was killed and 10 other people injured when a train hit a tourist van on a railway crossing in Sai Yok district on Monday afternoon.

The van, driven by Tossapon Kongprasoot, 28, crossed the track at a spot where there is no barrier or warning lights, in front of Yoko River Kwai Resort in tambon Soom Soom, just as a train carrying about 70 local and foreign passengers was approaching.

The van, carrying 10 passengers, failed to cross the track in time and the train hit the middle of the vehicle, police said.

All on board sustained immediate injuries, two of them serious. Some passengers' seats were ejected through the van's rear door by the force of the impact.

A 40-year-old Thai woman identified as Boonpa Sutthirak, one of the two badly injured passengers, was later pronounced dead at a hospital.

They van was carrying people on a trip from Bangkok to Sai Yok district, home to several popular attractions including the Tiger Temple at Wat Pha Luang Ta Bua and the Hellfire Pass Memorial Museum.

The train was en route from Bangkok to Nam Tok Station in Sai Yok district.

[usual suspect]

Looking at the photos I think the train was moving quite slowly..would this have been enough to make the minivan driver think he could cross over before the train got to him..?? (try think as a minivan driver would in this situation?..it's only a Sprinter train, even going slow it would be past within a minute...)

[PeteC]

In the third photo I think you can see the road crossing the track....you see vehicles there behind the train. Could be deceiving but looks like the train pushed the van quite a long way. Pete