Verdict upheld against bus company over death of student
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The Supreme Court yesterday upheld a lower court's verdict ordering the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority, operator of bus No 207, and the driver to pay Bt9,856,000 plus interest to the father of a university student who plunged to her death from a 207 bus
The five defendants are also required to jointly pay 7.5 per cent annual interest starting from the date when the accident occurred – September 14, 2004 – to Nam Chotimanas, whose daughter Piyathida, a university freshman, died when she hit her head on the sidewalk after falling from a 207 bus.
The judges ruled that although Piyathida was partly at fault by tripping on the front steps of the bus, but had the door of the bus operated properly, it should have been closed and the victim would not have been swung out of the bus, while it was taking a sharp left turn.
The five defendants were driver Thawim Saengdej, his superior Thanasit Worrachotehiransiri, concessionaire Chao Krasaechol, apart from BMTA who grants the concession to operate bus No 207 to the Bus 207 Transport Co.
Former bus owner Rerkchai Ruengkittiyos was ruled not at fault because he was formerly registered as a bus owner.
Speaking after hearing the verdict, Nam said accidents and deaths caused through the carelessness of drivers and operators of city buses were on a regular basis throughout the seven years, and that he would like his daughter’s case to be a lesson for the sake of public safety.
