AS MANY AS 38 Thai and foreign tourists got injured after their Pattaya-bound bus slammed into a 22-wheel trailer-truck on the Motorway this afternoon (Feb. 5) with the latter vehicle overturning and blocking three lanes, TV Channel 7 said.
A Highway Police team together with Ruamkatanyu Foundation rescuers rushed to the scene of the accident, km37+700, inbound to Chonburi, Bang Bo district, Samut Prakan province, where they found the Bangkok-Pattaya bus parked at the right lane with the front damaged. The 38 injured passengers were waiting for help at the road side.
Ten of the bus passengers were quickly given first aid with six rushed to Bang Pakong Hospital and four Chularat 11 Hospital. Most of the remaining suffered minor injuries and had to wait to be taken to hospital.
Around 300 metres away was the trailer-truck that had flipped to the side blocking three lanes. Its cargo of oil had also spilled on the road.
Mr. Chainarong (surname withheld), 32, the trailer-truck driver who was slightly injured said he was driving in the second lane from left when the bus suddenly rammed into the rear at full force leading to him losing control and the big vehicle flipping over.
The bus driver also lost control on the road shoulder and hit the guardrail.
CAPTION:
The scene of the accident on the Motorway today (Feb. 5) with an image of the damaged bus front inset. Credit: TV Channel 7
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