Thread: Chon Buri: 7 dead in van crash

Van crashes into road sign in Chon Buri, 7 dead | Bangkok Post: breakingnews

7 dead in van crash (update)

• Published: 2 Mar 2013 at 11.13
• Online news:

Seven people in a passenger van were killed when it crashed into a road sign in Chon Buri province on Saturday morning.


Post Today Photo

Police said the passenger van, with the licence plate 10-3101 Rayong, was running between Bangkok and Map Ta Phut. The vehicle was carrying a driver and nine passengers.

The accident occurred at about 8:20am in Bang Lamung district.

Witnesses told police that the vehicle was travelling at high speed, lost control, ran into the road sign, and fell into a ditch.

The compressed natural gas (CNG)-fuelled van quickly caught fire.

Among the seven fatalities were five women and two men.

Two woman passengers, Arunsri Kraisit, aged 41, and Sripai Semsuksai, 56, and the driver, Chuchart Pothichai, 50, were injured and taken to hospital.

Police suspected that Mr Chuchart had dozed off while driving.


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Seven dead in East Pattaya Minivan crash

Posted on March 2, 2013 at 12:10 pm

Just before 9am on Saturday Nongprue Police and rescue services were called to Highway 36 close to the Bira International Racing Circuit to deal with a fatal road crash which left seven people dead.

Due to the seriousness of the incident Police Major General Katcha, the Provincial Police Commander, was in attendance to oversee the initial stages of the investigation.

A Toyota Commuter Minivan Taxi which runs from Bangkok to Map Ta Put in Rayong Province had come off the road and rolled over, coming to a stop when it slammed into a steel pylon.

A fire then took hold of the vehicle which contained a total of 10 people. Three were seriously injured and taken to the Queen Sirigit Hospital while seven were unable to exit the vehicle and were burnt alive. It took firefighters 30 minutes to extinguish the flames.

The dead could not be formally identified but they are known to be 1 man, 4 women and 2 children. It is thought that two gas tanks fitted inside the rear compartment ignited when the minivan rolled off the main carriageway.

There were no independent witnesses to the crash who came forward, but it is thought that no other vehicle was involved. Police suspect the driver may have fallen asleep at the wheel but this is only speculation for now. The investigation continues.







- See more at: Seven dead in East Pattaya Minivan crash | Pattaya One - Pattaya News, Thailand News, World News, updated 24 hours a day

I've been on these going up to Korat, the nutter was doing just as you all say, max speed, tailgateing, shouting and screaming at other road users. Not sure if that was talc on his top lip! Must have been doing 80 mph through a junction, had it up on 2 wheels !!! i kid you not. I was up and over to give him a slap but the wife went ape, pulled me back, like i'm in the wrong, TiT !!!
I explained if it was UK he would be in "nik"..............

^ Of course that would beg the question of it is only the culture and social implications of introducing such horrors to the offending parties that stops such, or if it goes to a level of ignorance and arrogance on the paying customer's side that they are relatively content at such behavior as it is convenient to them and they as good Thais (and Buddhists) will come to no harm, so let the driver and the dash full of Buddha statues get on with it.


Just today I was in two BKK taxis, neither one had functional seatbelts in the rear (the seatbelt was there but not the fastener, they had been cut out). The Thais with me laughed (probably fakely) when I pretended to fasten my seatbelt but could not. Of course in a country that values development and life there would be a social abhorance and disbelief at taxis cutting out their seatbelts so the customers cannot use them. The taxi taken off the road and the offenders most likely locked up and certainly banned from from driving for a long time. But here, it's bad luck to fasten your seatbelt because it will preempt (cause) an accident and the driver is Thai so is perfect.

A very backward society and culture that is just about beyond help and development. No one will even mention it to the driver, report the company or make a public stance against it. A phone number for drivers that refuse meter demanding passengers, there should be a number to report taxis that have had their seatbelts cut out!


They have been relatively sheltered from the outside World and the outside World relatively sheltered from Thailand, but with ASEAN 2015 and the modern World Thailand is really starting to (and going to) look what it really is: Utterly backward and beyond help.

Originally Posted by mao say dung

Does anyone really believe this says something about Thais as distinct from say Nepalese, Indians or Brazilians?

Yes, for one Indians truly believe that their fate is spelled out for them at birth, nothing they do will affect when it is their time to die, as it is predestined. I would have to guess that Nepalese would follow a very similar belief.

Brazilians, I have never lived in Brazil and am not completely familiar with their (doubtless numerous) belief systems. Being a developing, primarily jungle country with poor national infrastructure and a massive amount of distance between destinations then I personally wouldn't be one bit surprised if they managed to equal or surpass Thailand's weekly minivan death toll.

Whether it be more or less does that make the problem I highlighted, say in post 14 any less real, or any less of a hindrance than proposed?

Unfortunately the Thais don't have the ability to change.

ie:

The drivers gain the common sense to stop doing it.

The police enforce the laws.

The companies limit the vehicles and have internal policies to stop such deadly behavior.

The customers question, let alone revolt and boycott against such behavior.

Your answer would be appreciated.

And if not, how dumb is it to go on and on about Thais on the basis of this sort of news report?

And if not, how dumb is it to go on about how other societies (ones who believe their fate is predestined so cause and affect has no meaning) does not mean that Thailand has serious social and cultural development issues that result in weekly/daily deaths such as this?

Of course, if you do, you have my sympathies and I'd be happy to blame your parents!

Though to get your point across and to highlight how intelligent you are you could have a dig at a poster and their parents, as opposed to acknowledging:

Why are these minivans not speed-limited?
Why are they not regulated from outside bodies?
Why do the drivers drive as such?
Why do the customers not protest?
Why do the police not enforce the law?


'But but but, the same happens in India'.

Originally Posted by mao say dung

Originally Posted by The Master Cool

Thailand has serious social and cultural development issues?

Which are more or less identical to social and cultural development issues in the majority of the world.

Which would be so? I don't believe this case (and the daily/weekly cases that came before and will come after it) refer to any country other than Thailand, as this is a Thai forum with this subforum based on Thai news.

So please do go on and on as if this were something special about Thais, whose parents were Thais.

Where did I mention it was special to the Thais??

I mention that it is due to certain facets of Thai society and culture. From the moronic driver which has likely bought his license or driven around a few cones to get one, has minimal training, and as per culture acts on impulse without foresight. To the customers, who's risk of being burned alive in the daily/weekly minivan fireball is far better than insisting on a safe passage and duty of care from the company and its employees,
from the company who refuse to speed limit their vehicles and (as far I know) pay their drivers commission to clock up the KM as quick as they can thus creating the incentive to earn more through speeding, to the police, well, where would we start there?.

Where do I once mention that it is unique to Thais?

Link please.


While you're at it, please answer what difference it makes that my points would also adhere to other nations.