THE BUS that caught fire on Vibhavadi Rangsit road leading to the tragic death of 23 mainly kindergarten and primary schoolchildren and teachers had been in use for 54 years with the engine switched from Isuzu to Benz at a later date, Amarin TV said this morning (Oct. 2).
This bus, the second of a convoy of three, was travelling from Wat Khao Phraya Sangkharam School in Uthai Thani province on a field trip for mainly around a hundred kindergarten and primary schoolchildren to Ayutthaya Historical Park and Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat) headquarters in Nonthaburi.
The vehicle had caught fire in front of the National Memorial on Vibhavadi Rangsit road at 12.25 p.m. yesterday with police saying a tyre had exploded triggering the inferno. Firefighters said the sight of children’s bodies piled up at the rear exit door was horrifying.
The Land Transport Department revealed that this Isuzu branded bus was registered on February 19, 1970.
It was specified as a non-regular passenger vehicle with 41 seats and a total weight of 16,600kg. In 2018, the department was notified that the bus had been modified with a Benz engine installed. Last tax was paid in May this year.
The owner had not informed the department that it was a natural gas engine that had been installed but he did tell the insurance company of this fact.
The pretty teacher, Ms. Kanokwan Sriphong, who was found dead holding some schoolchildren in her arms had only graduated from Suan Dusit University six days ago.
Well-known influencer Gun Jom Phalang, or Kanthat Phongpaiboonwej, had posted a messsage to help find her after her family contacted him to do so.
When it was confirmed she had died, he wrote, “Beautiful till the last moment. The body of teacher Kanokwan Sriphong was found hugging students in her arms. She did her duty as a teacher till the last second. I would like to express my condolences to the teacher’s family.”
Meanwhile the driver of the fire-gutted bus, Mr. Saman (surname withheld), 48, who had fled the scene after the fire engulfed the bus surrendered to at Wichian Chai police station, Ang Thong province, last night and was taken Khu Khot police station, Pathum Thani, at 8.10 p.m. for questioning and legal procedure.
He has been slapped with five serious charges, Naewna newspaper said.
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Scenes from the bus inferno on Vibhavadi Rangsit road. Photos: Amarin TV
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