Trang –
A double-decker coach traveling from Phuket to Betong overturned in Trang’s Huai Yot district late last night, leaving more than 30 passengers injured, 10 of them seriously.
The driver, identified only as 52-year-old Sirichai, suffered the most severe injuries, including the loss of his left leg and head trauma, though he remained conscious and responsive.
The accident occurred along the main Phetkasem Road in the Na Wong subdistrict. Rescue teams from local foundations and hospitals dispatched over 20 emergency vehicles to the scene. The bus, belonging to a private transport company, was found lying on its side in a roadside ditch with its front section heavily damaged. Authorities had to break the rear windows to evacuate trapped passengers before rushing them to nearby hospitals.
Initial reports indicate that the bus was carrying 52 people, 49 passengers, the driver, and two staff members, when it departed Phuket Bus Terminal around 10 p.m. on February 14th. The vehicle was scheduled to arrive in Betong, Yala province, by late morning today.
Sirichai told police he swerved to avoid a motorcycle that cut across his lane, causing the bus to lose control and slide nearly 80 meters before overturning. However, police officers stationed nearby, who were monitoring street racing activity, disputed his account. They stated they saw no motorcycle and believe the driver may have fallen asleep at the wheel.
One bus attendant sustained a severe ankle fracture, while a parked truck was also damaged after being sideswiped before the bus veered off the road.
Passengers described chaotic scenes inside the vehicle, with some suspecting driver fatigue as the cause. Authorities are now gathering testimony from the driver, staff, and passengers to determine the exact circumstances.
The transport company has since dispatched a replacement bus to ensure the remaining passengers could continue their journey to Betong.
