A DOUBLE-DECKER tour bus heading for Bangkok from Bueng Kan hit a pillar and overturned in Nakhon Ratchasima (Korat) in the wee hours of this morning (Mar. 19) killing two persons and injuring 43 others, Matichon newspaper said.
At 2.10 a.m. police at Pho Klang station, city district, were alerted of the accident in front of Cherdchai Industry Garage and rushed there.
Between kilometre markers 143-144 of Highway 2, or Mittraphap road, outbound from the city, police saw that a first-class air-conditioned double-decker bus belonged to Lotus Phibun Tour Co. Lt. had flipped to one side after slamming into a pillar with an overhead road sign attached.
Many injured passengers within the large vehicle were crying for help with Hook 31 rescue unit finally transporting 43 of them, 20 men and 23 women, to Maharat, Bangkok, St. Mary’s and Por Phaet 2 hospitals.
Two more people, believed to be the driver and the bus attendant, were stuck in the wreckage with the rescue team unable to remove them with their cutting machine. A large crane was brought to lift it and the two of them, who were severely injured with many broken bones, were removed.
Investigation revealed that before the accident the double-decker bus had stopped at this northeastern city’s Bus Terminal 2 for a break and then continued travelling to Bangkok.
As the vehicle went down Sima Thani railway bridge at high speed, the driver lost control and crashed into the pillar causing the big bus to flip over.
Further investigation is underway.
CAPTION:
Scenes of the tour bus crash in Nakhon Ratchasima early this morning, Mar. 19, 2024. Photos: Matichon
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