News is just coming in of another night bus crashing in Thailand. First reports suggest that ten people have been killed in this accident, 5 foreigners and 5 Thais (*). There were also 17 injured, 10 of whom are seriously injured. The 24-seater VIP tour bus left Bangkok at 7:30 p.m. and was heading to the holiday island of Koh Pha Ngan. The accident happened at about 5:30 a.m. this morning in Surat Thani. The coach crashed into an electricity pole and rolled over. Police at the scene told reporters that it looks like that the driver fell asleep at the wheel. The driver was among the dead. At this moment, the nationalities of the dead are unknown. Follow me on Twitter @RichardBarrow and @191Thailand for all the latest news.
If you have been following my @191Thailand Twitter account you would probably know already that road accidents involving buses and passengers vans happen often. I always advise people to avoid night buses in Thailand as they have a bad reputation. The southern route in particular is notorious for robberies. Many foreign tourists have complained that their bags were ransacked and things stolen while they were sleeping. Just recently, a foreign tourist was stabbed by a bus attendant while they were arguing about missing valuables. Many of these buses are operating illegally and without license. Drivers are not checked for alcohol levels or drugs and are sometimes known to fall asleep at the wheel.
(*) Newspapers the next day are saying 6 foreigners dead though only one Indian has been named so far.
UPDATE: List of people who were injured
1. Roberta (Bertie) Norton, British
2. Jonathan Bennet, British
3. Push Pinder Kuma, India
4. Pinry Jain, India
5. Aashima Jain, India
6. Jasmine Maglige, Luxembourg
7. Figue Magias Michael, Luxembourg
8. Kapl Gaya, Zimbabwe
9. Thitima Klomklieng, 27, Thai
10. Phirasak Yensiri, 26, Thai
11. Sodsai Kakarun, 21, Thai
12. Namphet Poonperm, 41, Thai
13. Komsan Nuntasahakitnukul, 36, Thai
14. Jiraporn Laokamkaew, 43, Thai
15. Prom Pijaranapong 64, Thai
16. Pitawun Suwanprasert, 35, Thai
Surat Thani Hospital (66 77) 272 231 and (66 77) 284 231; and Kanjanadit Hospital at (66 77) 244518-9.
With frequent train and bus accidents (almost monthly) it is probably safer to fly around Thailand now
I disagree. I think trains are far safer than buses. Not everyone can afford to fly but trains are a lot cheaper. I know they don’t go everywhere, but I would personally take an overnight train and then switch to a local bus to complete the journey. I would never take an overnight bus in Thailand. If you do, then make sure it is an official bus. Also, check to see if the seats are bolted down! May seem strange but during an accident, you don’t want to get hit by a flying seat.
I remember this crash
That was a bad one but it happened three years ago. Train crashes like that don’t happen that often. If you follow my @191Thailand Twitter account you might have seen many train derailments recently, but those mainly resulted in injuries. Most deaths this year were from pedestrians or vehicles or level crossings. Trains are still safer than buses in Thailand.
What about BKS are they better?
RIP to the victims, I support your advise Richard, take trains if you can’t afford flying but stay clear of the night buses.
I was on the 730pm bus to samui from bangkok last night – VIP – but from Mochit. We had a very good driver who sent very sedately. There were buses literally flying past us in the outside lane doing almost twice our speed. I dithered over which terminal to leave from. I am very glad I chose Mochit. There has to be serious punishments for minibus and coach drivers who think they can defy the law of physics. I have taken the keys off a driver at least once, but too many people just sit in terror and do nothing.
RIP!
I hardly ever travel by bus in Thailand due to accidents like this.
Where I live in Khanom midway between Surat Thani and Nakhon Si Thammarat I see and hear about bus accidents every single week…
So when I travel I travel by car or fly to my destination.
What’s the name of the coach operator?
The Transport Co., Ltd
I’ve heard that the operator’s 999 coaches always have a serious problem in safety.
This is the Thai way.do before thinking always.
This kind of accident usually happen in all around the world, not only in Thailand but also in UK! Don’t say Thai way.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/6230715.stm
Dongho Won – Thank you for pointing to a BBC story which says that bus travel is the safest means of transport in the UK. I does not usually happen. When two people are killed it is big news and makes the BBC.
The accident rate in Thailand is more than six times the per capita rate in the UK. QED.
It is the Thai way because Thais do not have to pass anything like a rigorous driving tests and have learned no sense of lane control. It is not a racial thing. It is a fact.
Please update the names & Nationalities -
Roberta (Bertie) Norton – not Roverta Nortun!
Jon Bennett – British!
R.I.P to all the vcitims and speedy recovery to all the survivors!
Andrew Drummond has done a follow up story called: British Tourist DID Beg Bus Driver in Fatal Crash – SLOW DOWN!
I totally agre with Mr Barrow !
Thai have no sense of lane control at all !!!
I have done a lot of (night)buses in Thailand, and I have survived a bus crash as well on exactly the same highway close to this one !
I’m one of the lucky few…
Best advise : NEVER EVER TAKE A NIGHTBUS in Thailand.
And it has nothing to do with racist vieuws, I LOVE Thailand,
it’s just common sense and experience…
RIP for all victims !
Today’s Bangkok Post is reporting that the bus was speeding before the accident and that one passenger had complained to the driver about his recklessness. The drivers response was to stop and invite anyone who did not his driving to get off the bus. The accident happened shortly afterwards.