A serious accident occurred early Monday morning in Prachinburi Province, central Thailand. A long-distance passenger bus suspected of brake failure crashed into three large trucks on the highway and caught fire, resulting in 7 deaths and over 30 injuries.
The passenger bus was traveling from Nong Khai Province in the northeast to Rayong Province in the east. As it passed through the highway in Ban Na District, Prachinburi, it suddenly lost control. The bus, traveling at high speed, consecutively hit three trucks with great impact, and soon the entire vehicle was engulfed in flames.
Many passengers were still asleep on the bus at the time of the incident. A surviving male passenger recalled hearing screams that the brakes had failed, followed by a severe collision. Panic-stricken passengers scattered in all directions.
He described that the driver was clearly trying to avoid collisions, continuously changing lanes in an attempt to control the vehicle, but ultimately could not escape the disaster.
Bus Suspected to be Out of Control at High Speed
Another eyewitness driver stated that he was right behind the bus at the time and saw it speeding out of control, alarming him and leading him to suspect the brake system had indeed failed. He immediately slowed down and kept a distance. After witnessing the bus hit the truck, he got out of his car to help rescue. It is reported that two passengers were thrown out at the moment of impact, and unfortunately, the bus driver was crushed to death in the driver's seat.
The accident caused the one-way lane to be closed for over two hours, with the scene in chaos. Survivors were sitting on the roadside in shock awaiting rescue, many hospitalized for smoke inhalation or burns. Authorities have launched an investigation to clarify the cause of the accident.