The bus was full of holidaymakers heading home. At 7.41pm on Jan 1, on highway No. 41 near the Pa We Intersection in Chaiya district, Surat Thani, it overturned and hit a roadside tree. Five passengers died and 30 were hurt.
The chartered Dee Mee Prom bus was carrying tourists from a trip to Betong district in Yala back to Samut Sakhon, on the last day of Thailand’s five-day New Year holiday. Police suspect the driver did not know the road and lost control on a bend.
Rescuers found injured passengers trapped in the wreckage. Eighteen survivors were taken to Tha Chang Hospital and 12 to Chaiya Hospital. Two men and three women were pulled dead from the bus.
Police have named four of the dead: Sunthorn Promnit, Sutham Towsi, Sudawadee Towsi and Nachanok Simran. The fifth victim, a woman, has not been identified.
The driver, Suthep Boonchoom, 47, and his assistant, Prakit Boonchoom, 45, were taken to Chaiya police station. Both were charged with reckless driving causing death and injury.
One passenger described the minutes before the crash. The driver had asked whether anyone wanted to stop for souvenirs at the roadside shops in Chaiya. The passengers chose to wait for a restaurant stop later on. Then came a loud noise, and the bus rolled.
Response from the province
Governor Thirut Supawibul offered condolences to the families on Jan 2. Severely injured passengers were referred to Surat Thani Hospital, he said. Provincial officials visited the hurt, and gave those with minor injuries lodging and food until they could be sent home.
The governor promised quick compensation for victims and families, and an investigation to pinpoint the cause. Relatives have been told to come and claim the bodies. The wrecked bus was towed to Chaiya police station.
Sources
Sources
- Tour bus crash in Thailand’s Surat Thani leaves 5 dead, 30 injured
- Tour bus crash in Surat Thani leaves 5 dead, over 30 injured
