Saturday, 15 September 2012

SURAT THANI, Thailand: 2 killed, 20 hurt in bus crash



SURAT THANI: Two people were killed and 20 seriously injured in a collision between a packed interprovincial bus and an 18-wheel truck early Saturday morning.

The accident occurred near a U-turn on the Punpin-Nong Karee Road in front of a petrol station in Muang Tha Kang municipality of Punpin district at 5.30am, said Pol Lt Col Manoon Padchoo, an investigator at Punpin police station.

The truck driver tried to make a U-turn and suddenly cut in front of the speeding bus carrying 38 people including its two drivers. The bus driver tried to stop but failed because the road was slippery due to rain. It then skidded and crashed head-on into the rear end of the truck. The bus's front cabin was crushed by the powerful collision.  

Rescue workers used metal cutters to cut open the wrecked bus and spent more than an hour removing all of the passengers.

A male and a female passenger, identified as Pak Sripis, 67, and Charoon Sripis, 67, were killed in the accident. Pak died at the scene while Charoon was later pronounced dead at the hospital. Their relatonship was not known.

The bus, owned by Sri Suthep Tour Co, had left Bangkok on early Friday night and was heading to Nakhon Si Thammarat when the accident took place shortly before dawn. 

Police are tracking down the truck driver who fled after the crash. The truck belonged to Choke Chatchai Transport Co, Pol Lt Col Manoon said.

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