Five killed in Phitsanulok tour bus accident
Five passengers were killed and 50 injured when their double-decker tour bus plunged down a 10-metre ravine in Phitsanulok early yesterday.
Police said the coach was travelling from Udon Thani to Chiang Mai on Nakhon Thai-Dansai Road in Nakhon Thai district when its brakes failed as it was navigating a curve on the mountain road. Three unidentified women died – one reportedly from Belgium – as well as a 33-year-old man, Phornsak Sawekwong, and a seven-month-old boy, Chaimongkhol Charoensaen.
Eleven of the injured survivors, including the driver, were rushed to Nakhon Thai Crown Prince Hospital, while the others went to Dansai Crown Prince Hospital.
Magdalena Jaworska, who is four-months into her pregnancy, and four Thai passengers were transferred to Buddha Chinaraj Hospital, while a monk remained at Nakhon Thai Crown Prince Hospital. The others were discharged after treatment.
The World Health Organisation said up to 26,000 people are killed in road accidents every year in Thailand – the sixth highest in the world.
