Over a dozen Malaysians killed in bus crash in Chiang Mai
AT least 14 Malaysian tourists were killed and many others injured at 11.30am yesterday when their coach hit a power pole and ran off a mountainous road in Chiang Mai’s Doi Saket district.
Police said the bus was running on national highway No 118 through Ban Pang Fan village between Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai provinces in the North when the driver lost control at the 43th kilometre marker.
Of the 21 Malaysian passengers on the bus, 11 died at the scene. Three were pronounced dead on arrival at a hospital and two were in a serious condition as of press time last night.
Besides the Malaysians, the bus operated by Weerapan Tour was carrying three other passengers, a tour guide, a bus conductor and the driver, identified as Somporn Bualuang, 58, police said.
Rescue worker Uthai Pollaharn said the bus was fleeing after colliding with a car in the Danmae Kajan area of Chiang Rai. The driver of the car, Krissana Fongdawirat, was not hurt, so he chased after the bus and alerted police only to find that it had crashed.
When the bus arrived at the area, it hit another car before skidding off the road, rammed the pole and slammed into a big rock and trees.
Bus cut open to get to injured
Police found the bus was severely damaged. Rescue workers used tools and equipment to cut parts of the vehicle to get to the dead and injured victims.
The damage was estimated at about Bt8 million.
The Malaysian Embassy has been informed about the accident.
The injured passengers were sent to Doi Saket Hospital in Tambon Choengdoi in the province.
Uthai said there were many car accidents in the area but this was the worst with many casualties.
Chiang Mai Governor Pavin Chamniprasart rushed to the scene and inspected the wreckage.
