19-3-2024 (BANGKOK) A tour bus en route from Bangkok to Bueng Kan collided with an overhead signpost, veering off-course and overturning in a catastrophic accident that has left an indelible mark on the city of Nakhon Ratchasima. The tragic incident, which unfolded in the early hours of March 19th, has claimed the lives of at least two individuals and left dozens more nursing injuries ranging from minor to critical.
At approximately 2:10 AM, the Nakhon Ratchasima Provincial Police Station received a distress call reporting a severe bus accident near the Cherd Chai Industrial Estate, prompting a swift response from emergency services. Upon arrival at the scene, a harrowing tableau greeted the first responders – a double-decker tour bus, bearing the license plate 16-8011 and operated by Lotus Pibul Tour Company, lay mangled and overturned, its wreckage a testament to the force of the collision.
Amidst the twisted metal and shattered glass, the cries of the injured pierced the night air, as rescue workers from the Huk.31 Nakhon Ratchasima Volunteer Rescue Unit sprang into action. In a coordinated effort, the wounded were triaged and swiftly transported to a network of nearby hospitals, including Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital, Bangkok Ratchasima Hospital, Saint Mary’s Hospital, and P. Phaet 2 Hospital.
The toll of the accident was staggering: 43 individuals, comprising 20 men and 23 women, sustained injuries ranging from minor cuts and bruises to life-threatening trauma. Tragically, two individuals, believed to be the driver and a crew member, were found trapped beneath the wreckage, their bodies battered and mangled beyond recognition.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the ill-fated bus had departed from the Bueng Kan Bus Terminal, carrying passengers bound for Bangkok. After a scheduled stopover at the Nakhon Ratchasima Bus Terminal, where passengers disembarked to stretch their legs and attend to personal needs, the double-decker resumed its journey, hurtling towards the capital city.
Witnesses reported that the bus was traveling at an excessive speed as it approached the Seemathan Railway Overpass, causing the driver to lose control and collide violently with the overhead signpost. The force of the impact was catastrophic, sending the bus careening off the road and overturning in a twisted heap of metal and glass.
As the investigation into the cause of the accident continues, authorities are grappling with the arduous task of identifying the deceased and notifying their loved ones. The recovery efforts were hampered by the severity of the wreckage, necessitating the deployment of heavy-duty cranes to lift the mangled bus and extricate the trapped victims.
