29 killed in Thailand bus accident

[buksida]

A bus carrying New Year travellers plunged off one of Thailand's highest bridges in the kingdom's northeast, leaving at least 29 people dead, police said.

The accident occurred around midnight Thursday-Friday in Lom Sak district, Phetchabun province while the bus was en route to the northern province of Chiang Rai.

"We suspect the bus driver fell asleep," Major General Sukit Samana, police commander of Phetchabun province, told AFP.

Twenty-eight bodies were found in the ravine and one died in hospital, he said.

Several others were in a critical condition. No foreigners were believed to have been on board.

"The eyewitness who informed the police said the bus went very fast before it plunged into the ravine," Sukit said.

He said more than 100 police, soldiers, civilians and rescue workers had joined the rescue effort.

The bus, which was carrying 40 passengers, was completely destroyed in the accident.

Transport Minister Chadchart Sitthipunt said the bus smashed through the safety barrier of the Phamuang bridge, whose highest pillar stands at 50 metres (164 feet) tall and which links north and northeast Thailand.

"The accident may have been caused by a reckless driver as the bus was travelling at high speed going downhill and it crashed through the bridge railing before plunging into the 50- to 70-metre deep ravine," he said.

Source: Yahoo News

[sateeb]

Just been told that my friend and ex colleague from Khon kaen Wittayayon school, Nick Dunbar was killed in this crash. Sad news indeed...RIP mate

[PeteC]

Is that the Nick Dunbar who is a financial author?

[PeteC]

Photo and map at this link:

http://news.yahoo.com/29-killed-thailan ... 49258.html

[sateeb]

Is that the Nick Dunbar who is a financial author?

No....Nick was very well known Teacher around Khon Kaen.

[usual suspect]

So,so sad
R.I.P. those poor souls that have (dare I say) been needlessly killed by yet another dopey
bus driver..
The sad thing is that there may be more incidents like this within the next week or so..

[Spitfire]

Sorry to say....but same old irresponsible bus driver BS. Plus, those that run the bus companies have 'blood on their hands' for making bus drivers complete their trips within a certain time or lose money from their salaries.......which is why they have to clock-in at certain points along the route and drive like madmen.

[PeteC]

Another one in Chumpon last night.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/3 ... n-chumphon


Bus accident injures 18 passengers.....

[Big Boy]

OK, while we're at it, here's another in Phuket http://www.thephuketnews.com/two-dead-2 ... -43730.php

[PeteC]

Yeah, this time of year we would have nothing but new accident threads.....thus my discretion to combine.

[oakdale160]

Are the buses that run from the bus station safer than the180b mini buses???

[Takiap]

Hard to say if they are safer or not, but I certainly feel safer in the big buses than I do in the mini vans. Every time I've been in one it's been a white knuckle ride from start to finish, including the most recent one from Chumphon to HH.

[jingjoe]

i prefer the buses to the mini buses,but would travel in neither unless it was a day commute,at least its reducing my risk.

[Nereus]

Just been told that my friend and ex colleague from Khon kaen Wittayayon school, Nick Dunbar was killed in this crash. Sad news indeed...RIP mate

A tribute to him in todays Bangkok Post:

Remembering Nick

http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opin ... rve-better



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