13 teachers killed in road accident in Chiang Mai

**William** · 19-01-2007, 03:03 PM

13 teachers killed in road accident in Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai - A chartered bus taking teachers from Chanthaburi to Doi Inthanon Mount plunged into a roadside pond, killing 13 of them and injuring several others.

Police said the accident occurred at 9:30 am on a road in Tambon Pamiang of Chiang Mai's Doi Saket district.

Police said the bus was climbing the mountainous road and lost control at a curve and overturned before plunging into the pond.

The 13 teachers died inside the bus.

The injured teachers were rushed on helicopters to nearby hospitals.

The bus was charted to take teaches from eight schools in Chan Thaburi for a field trip in Chiang Rai and the bus left Chiang Rai at 7 am to take teachers to tour Doi Inthanon.

The Nation

**AntRobertson** · 19-01-2007, 03:07 PM

Bus crashes, Muslim 'insurgents', arrested for fake qualifications...

Fock, you couldn't pay me enough to be a teacher right now.

**AntRobertson** · 19-01-2007, 06:02 PM

Bus crashes, Muslim 'insurgents', arrested for fake qualifications...

Fock, you couldn't pay me enough to be a teacher right now.

Right, there's a reason (other than liking the sound of my own voice) for qouting my own post here - bare with me...

So no sooner had I posted that than I thought 'Fock it, I'm off early today' (as is my Friday ritual). Anyway, so I get home and couple of mates called. They had been working oop North and had passed the crash scene on the way back. I'll spare you the descriptions of the graphic scene here because...

Then the wife calls. The bus that crashed was from her home town, unfortunately two of her cousins were onboard. One is dead and the other currently in ICU with a broken neck

**William** · 19-01-2007, 06:31 PM

Ant: sorry to hear that. And the death toll is now 22

Bus plungs into a river, killing 22 teachers in Chiang Mai

A chartered bus taking teachers from Chanthaburi to Doi Inthanon in Chiang Mai plunged into a roadside river in Chiang Mai's Doi Saket district, killing 22 and injuring several others, police said Friday.

Eyewitnesses said some of the teachers were thrown as far as 20 metres away from the site of the accident, while other had drown in the river or went unconscious after falling into the water.

The accident occurred at about 9.30am on the Chiang MaiChiang Rai highway in Tambon Pa Miang, about 30 kilometres from Chiang Mai City.

The doubledecker lost control at a sharp curve near a bridge over Kuang River, overturned and plunged into the river, police said. The injured were evacuated on helicopters to nearby hospitals.

The bus was hired to take teachers from eight schools in Chan Thaburi's Pong Nam Ron district for a fieldtrip in Chiang Rai.

The bus left Chiang Rai at 7 am for a tour on Doi Inthanon and the Royal Flora Ratchaphruek 2006 Exposition, respectively.

A Klong Bon Wittayalai School teacher, Amnat Chayangkhanont, who sustained head injuries, said that the bus driver was speeding and lost control at a curve and then plunged into the river.

At the time of the interview, Amnat still didn't have an idea over the fate of his wife or her whereabouts.

Meanwhile, Chanthaburi Educational Zone 2 Director Somchai Jitneuang said that he had contacted Chiang Mai Educational Zone 1 Director to assist the victims.
Somchai said he would provide assistance to the injured and the dead as according to the civil service procedure because the group had obtained a fieldtrip permit to learn teaching methods in the North and to visit the horticultural expo.

**RDN** · 19-01-2007, 09:56 PM

Originally Posted by William

...A Klong Bon Wittayalai School teacher, Amnat Chayangkhanont, who sustained head injuries, said that the bus driver was speeding and lost control at a curve and then plunged into the river...

F*cking bus driver should be hanged, drawn and quartered - if he's still alive and hasn't done a runner.

**dirtydog** · 19-01-2007, 11:01 PM

Being a Teacher in thailand is dangerous, that must be about 50 dead this year, I think the bus driver is probably dead, but if he isn't and he still had 2 legs I am willing to put money on it that the cnut done a runner

**RDN** · 20-01-2007, 01:01 AM

I think I read somewhere else that he's in hospital. I hope they chain him to the bed, or he'll disappear.

Perhaps we should start a thread: "Why are Thai bus drivers such crap drivers". So many of them seem to have no grasp of speed, traction, inertia, centrifugal force, etc. There is no excuse for "mis-judging" a bend. None whatsoever.

**dirtydog** · 20-01-2007, 10:49 AM

ACCIDENT / TEACHERS KILLED ON STUDY TOUR

Bus plunge leaves 17 dead

Chiang Mai _ Seventeen people were killed and 33 injured in a road accident after a tour bus, taking teachers from Chanthaburi province on a study tour, took a bend too fast and plunged into a river in this northern province's Doi Saket district yesterday. Thirteen of the teachers were killed on the spot, while the other four died on the way to hospital.

The bus, owned by the Thikhamporn tour company, was taking the teachers from the Nongthakong Phitthayakarn school in Chanthaburi's Pong Nam Ron district to Chiang Mai and was travelling on Highway No 118 when the accident took place.

They were returning from a field trip in Chiang Rai.

Police believe the driver, Kamron Bunrat, 48, was not familiar with the curves.

The driver must have taken the sharp bend too quickly and that probably made him lose control of the vehicle, police said.

The bus skidded off the road and rolled into the Kuang river below near Pang Fan village in tambon Pamiang.

The roof of the bus was torn open and passengers on the upper deck of the double-decker were thrown out. The driver was detained for questioning.
Chiang Mai's Maharaj hospital has asked for urgent blood donations of A and O groups, which are currently in short supply.

Bangkok Post

**Wallace** · 20-01-2007, 12:18 PM

Originally Posted by RDN

Why are Thai bus drivers such crap drivers"

It's been done, I'm sure. All Thais are crap drivers, every one of them, no matter what anyone says. I ride my bike through Bangkok every day and am appalled and shocked at how utterly inept they are.

**kingwilly** · 20-01-2007, 12:18 PM

Originally Posted by RDN

I think I read somewhere else that he's in hospital. I hope they chain him to the bad, or he'll disappear.

Perhaps we should start a thread: "Why are Thai bus drivers such crap drivers". So many of them seem to have no grasp of speed, traction, inertia, centrifugal force, etc. There is no excuse for "mis-judging" a bend. None whatsoever.

Having said that the bus drivers do not have proper training for driving, buses are in terrible condition and hands up if you've never made a slight mistake when behind the wheel of a car.

I know I have.

**Wallace** · 20-01-2007, 12:25 PM

'Slight mistake'? When over 20 people are dead, you need to be a bit more careful with your choice of words.

Would you give a loaded gun to a certified homicidal maniac and hope that he doesn't use it? Thai drivers simply make up for everything else they lack in life when they get behind the wheel of a car, truck, or bus. They are just unfit to drive. I recently had to take a minibus from Trang to Ko Lanta and was scared shitless all the way. The driver was using his phone all the time, driving at very high speed, and overtaking on blind corners.

I told him several times to take it easy but he just didn't give a shit. It's my life he's risking.

**kingwilly** · 20-01-2007, 12:52 PM

Sorry no disrespect intended to the families and people effected. I meant that I have also made mistakes on the road, fortunately nothing fatal.

And yes, Thai bus drivers are manics, so are many other nationalities of bus drivers.

**Wallace** · 20-01-2007, 02:14 PM

The problem seems particularly acute here. The training you get as a Thai before being allowed to drive is just wholly inadequate. I appreciate there are shit drivers in many countries - but here, they're ALL crap. Not one person receives a decent grounding in basic skills for handling a vehicle and the roads they use. I make mistakes, too, but I don't pull out into Sukhumvit Road without looking, or drive a bus from the outside lane to the middle, then stop to let people out without even getting over to the inside lane, or drive my motorbike at speed on the pavements (but I do ride my bicycle on them - very slowly!!).

It's things like this that make them shit and it won't ever get better unless they overhaul the rules concerning licenses and start clamping down on motoring offences.

**AntRobertson** · 20-01-2007, 02:29 PM

Originally Posted by Wallace

The problem seems particularly acute here. The training you get as a Thai before being allowed to drive is just wholly inadequate

Particularly for the 'professional' drivers (buses, taxis, tuk-tuk, song teaw etc).

I would in fact be honestly surprised if such persons even have to hold any special training/certification. It seems merely like a matter of: 'Oh you have a bus license? Ok, go take charge of these 40 peoples lives then...'

**dirtydog** · 20-01-2007, 04:33 PM

17 killed in bus crash The wreck of a tour bus which carried teachers from Chanthaburi, following an accident which killed 17 of its passengers in Chiang Mai's Doi Saket district yesterday. — SUBIN KHUENKAEW

Bangkok Post

**obsidian** · 20-01-2007, 04:37 PM

i am surprised the driver didnt run away after the accident. he must have been in shock.

**RDN** · 20-01-2007, 07:44 PM

Originally Posted by AntRobertson

... It seems merely like a matter of: 'Oh you have a bus license? Ok, go take charge of these 40 peoples lives then...'

I sometimes carry a load of people in the back of my pickup. When I do I feel as if all these people's lives are in my hands and I'm extremely careful what I do with them.

I've driven around Doi Inthanon too - the "Highest Spot in Thailand" as I recall the sign saying. I didn't drive fast around blind corners and didn't have any problems. Why should a bus driver?

At rush hour tonight driving through the busiest part of Viset road from Chalong to Rawai, where the Moslem mosque is, a saloon car overtook me even though I was next to the central line. He overtook the bike that I was following - a bike that was clearly moving to turn right - and nearly hit another bike waiting to turn right into a petrol station. He was being flashed at by several vehicles coming in the opposite direction. I hope he crashes into an electric pole soon.

Sorry to those people who will suffer if he does. I'm sure the electric will be restored fairly quickly. To him:

**Wallalai** · 20-01-2007, 10:29 PM

I'm very surprised to see doubledecker in montainous areas (roads), this added to schock absorbers in poor condition, speed and a bad driver led easily to a crash.
My homeplace in Switzerland is right in the middle of the Alps and we have a lot of mountainous roads and high mountain passes, and the onedeckers panoramics are preferred to doubledeckers who are left to travel in the plains. And busses are in perfect condition with trained drivers.

**ChiangMai noon** · 20-01-2007, 10:39 PM

Originally Posted by RDN

I've driven around Doi Inthanon too - the "Highest Spot in Thailand" as I recall the sign saying. I didn't drive fast around blind corners and didn't have any problems. Why should a bus driver?

The accident actually happened in the Doi Sakhet area just outside Chiangmai.
The poor bastards never made it to Doi Inthanon.
Very dangerous roads on the way into CM.

**dirtydog** · 21-01-2007, 02:53 AM

15 bus victim bodies returned

The bodies of 15 Chanthaburi teachers killed in a bus accident in Chiang Mai on Friday arrived back home yesterday on board a military C130 aircraft.

The bodies were flown from the Maharaj Nakhon Chiang Mai Hospital to Sattahip naval base in Chon Buri from where they were taken to Chanthaburi's Tab Sai temple.

A chartered bus taking 50 teachers from Chanthaburi to Doi Inthanon in Chiang Mai plunged into a river in Chiang Mai's Doi Saket district on Friday morning, killing 17 and injuring 33 others, police said.

The accident occurred at about 9.30am on the Chiang Mai-Chiang Rai highway in Tambon Pa Miang, about 30 kilometres from Chiang Mai City.

The double-decker coach went out of control on a sharp curve near a bridge over the Kuang River. It overturned and plunged into the river, police said. The injured were evacuated by helicopter to nearby hospitals.

Chiang Mai provincial police commander Maj-General Bandop Sukonthaman said the driver, Kamron Boonrat, was in custody in the Nakhon Pink hospital with a broken arm and leg.

He has been charged with reckless driving leading to the death of others. Police will take further action against the owners of the Thikhamporn Tour company if the bus is found to have been illegally modified.

Education Minister Wijit Srisa-arn said Office of Basic Education Commission secretary Khunying Kasama Varavarn na Ayutthaya would oversee funeral arrangements and care of the injured.
The Chanthaburi Provincial Educational Service Office is arranging replacement teachers.

The Nation

**toslti** · 21-01-2007, 03:42 AM

Originally Posted by Wallalai

I'm very surprised to see doubledecker in montainous areas (roads), this added to schock absorbers in poor condition, speed and a bad driver led easily to a crash.
My homeplace in Switzerland is right in the middle of the Alps and we have a lot of mountainous roads and high mountain passes, and the onedeckers panoramics are preferred to doubledeckers who are left to travel in the plains. And busses are in perfect condition with trained drivers.

Thanks for that... so how do you account for the crash in the Viamala tunnel on 16th Spetember 2006 that killed at least 6??

Or the 12 killed in another Swiss bus on 17th April 2005 in which

''A Swiss tourist bus plunged into an Alpine ravine on Sunday, killing 12 people and injuring 15, police said. Fourteen of the survivors were thrown from the bus when it went out of control, police said. Rescuers descended by rope into the ravine and saved a 15th person from the wreckage, but the rest of the bus occupants were killed.''

Typical Swiss, so full of their own importance that they can't see whats going on under their own noses.

**dirtydog** · 21-01-2007, 04:18 AM

Teacher replacements being found

Relief centre opened, bodies flown home

By Cheewin Sattha
A local educational office is arranging teacher replacements after a road accident on Friday in Chiang Mai's Doi Saket district killed 21 teachers and wounded 36.

Education Minister Wijit Srisa-arn said Chanthaburi Education Zone Office would find substitute teachers so students' education was not disrupted. A relief centre had been opened to give immediate help to injured teachers.

Secretary-general of the Basic Education Commission Kasama Voravarn na Ayudhaya said the Education Ministry would meet medical fees, funeral and body delivery costs.

On Friday, a double-decker bus carrying teachers from Nongthakong Phitthayakarn School in Chanthaburi's Pong Nam Ron district plunged into a river on the way to Chiang Mai after returning from a field trip in Chiang Rai.

Police said the bus skidded off Highway 118 and rolled into the Kuang river near Pang Fan village after the driver took a sharp bend too quickly and lost control of the vehicle.

The roof of the bus was torn open and passengers on the upper deck of the double-decker were thrown out.

Driver Kamron Bunrat, 48, who was also treated in hospital, was charged with careless driving causing injury and driving without a licence.

An air force C-130 aircraft yesterday carried the bodies back to their hometown for funeral services.

Families and relatives of the victims cried while claiming the bodies at Maharaj hospital. Four bodies could not be identified.
The aircraft took off at Chiang Mai's Wing 41 military airbase and landed at Chon Buri's U-tapao airbase.

Bangkok Post

**dirtydog** · 22-01-2007, 08:24 PM

Our News is Always New

LATEST NEWS

Monday 22nd January 2007

The bodies of 22 Teachers flown to Utapao Airport after coach crash in Chang Mai.
These pictures come from the Utapao Airport in Sattahip, 30kms outside of Pattaya and relates to a story featured in the national press last week where 22 teachers lost their lives after a coach crash in Chang Mai. The teachers had come from eight school in Jantabori Province close to Chonburi Province and it was decided to fly the bodies down to this airport which is only 2 hours drive from Jantabori. 13 of the teachers died at the scene of the crash with the rest passing away at Hospital. The teachers had come from eight schools around Jantabori and had traveled to the North of Thailand as part of their ongoing teacher training. A Buddhist Monk conducted a religious ceremony as the coffins of the 22 teachers were removed from the Air Force Cargo plane and placed on the back of a truck. Some family members were also in attendance to receive the bodies of their loved ones.

44

This is weird, the death count keeps going up.....

**friscofrankie** · 23-01-2007, 01:42 AM

Originally Posted by dirtydog

Driver Kamron Bunrat, 48, who was also treated in hospital, was charged with careless driving causing injury and driving without a licence.

That'll teach 'im to drive like a madman and kill innocent people.

**Propagator** · 23-01-2007, 03:21 AM

They ought to throw thw book at him. Driving a coach without a licence - I presume that this would be a Thai equivalent of a PSV licence, aand not that he don't hold a driving licence.

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