A bus carrying 30 passengers has crashed in the southern province of Chumphon after the driver fell asleep at the wheel. This follows a fatal bus incident jus,t north of Chumpon in Prachuap Khiri Khan, at the start of the month when 14 people died.
In this case, The Phuket Express reports that all the passengers escaped without serious injuries following the collision in the Lang Suan district.
Police and rescue workers arrived at the scene on the Asia 41 road to find a damaged passenger bus by the side of the road. The bus had been transporting passengers from Hat Yai, in the southern province of Sonkhla, to Ranong.
Fifteen injured passengers were taken to hospital for treatment, while the other fifteen had only minor injuries.
The driver has been named as 48 year old Wancha Raksajan from Nakhon Si Thammarat. It’s understood he has admitted to falling asleep at the wheel, saying he was jolted awake just before the crash and had tried to bring the bus to a stop at the side of the road.
Police have launched an investigation to determine what legal action will be taken.
The incident, again, puts a spotlight on Thailand’s bus safety track record, the pressures on driver and their long stints at the wheels, and maintenance of the interprovincial bus fleet.
SOURCE: The Phuket Express
