Police have charged the bus driver involved in a tragic fire incident that claimed the lives of at least 20 students and three teachers in Pathum Thani on Tuesday. The driver, identified as 48-year-old Samarn Chankut, left the scene of the accident but later surrendered to authorities in Wiset Chai Chan district, Ang Thong, that same night. He was subsequently taken back to Khu Khut police station in Pathum Thani for further interrogation.
According to Pol Maj Gen Chayanont Meesati, deputy chief of Provincial Police Region 1, Samarn admitted to being in a state of shock when he fled to a relative’s home after the tragedy. The bus, which was part of a three-bus convoy transporting students from Uthai Thani to an exhibition at the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand in Bang Kruai district, Nonthaburi, crashed and erupted in flames on Vibhavadi Rangsit road, near the Zeer Rangsit shopping center, around noon.
Samarn informed the police that they were traveling at a speed of 70-80 kilometers per hour when he suddenly lost control of the vehicle, which felt as though it had hit a pothole. He described the bus having issues similar to a tire bursting or an airbag failing. The bus collided with a Mercedes Benz before crashing into the median barrier, igniting a fire that quickly engulfed the vehicle.
Police charged Samarn with four counts: reckless driving causing danger to people or property, reckless driving resulting in death, careless driving causing physical or mental harm to others, and failure to assist after an accident. Investigators are now awaiting forensic results and a report on the bus’s condition, including the conversion of its gas tank, before deciding on further charges against the bus operator.
The bus was carrying 38 students, ranging from Kindergarten 2 to Mathayom 3, along with six teachers from Wat Khao Praya Sangkharam School in Lan Sak district of Uthai Thani province. Sadly, the fire resulted in 20 student and three teacher fatalities. The injured survivors were promptly rushed to hospitals, with three students in critical condition: two aged 7 and 9, transferred to Thammasat University Hospital, while a 14-year-old remains at patRangsit Hospital with serious burn injuries.
On Tuesday, relatives of 15 of the deceased provided DNA samples to aid in the identification of the victims, while relatives of the remaining eight were en route from Uthai Thani, police reported. Pol Lt Gen Trairong Phiewphan, commander of the Office of Police Forensic Science, confirmed that as of Wednesday, 17 bodies had been identified and the causes of death were established for 11. Identification of the remaining six was expected to be finalized by Wednesday afternoon.
The bus had been converted from a diesel engine to natural gas (NGV), with ten compressed natural gas tanks installed. Forensic police will consult the Department of Transport to determine how many NGV tanks are permitted on the vehicle. Notably, acting national police chief Pol Gen Kitrat Phanphet stated that only six tanks were recorded on the vehicle’s registration.
Reports indicate that the bus was originally registered 54 years ago on February 19, 1970, equipped with an Isuzu diesel engine, which was later replaced with a Mercedes-Benz engine and converted to run on natural gas. The vehicle was registered as a passenger bus operating on non-regular routes with vehicle number 2105472 and engine number 422915-590053, belonging to Chinnaboot Tour, based in Sing Buri.
Pol Lt Gen Kornchai Klayklueng, assistant national police chief, announced that the bodies of the victims will be taken to Wat Khao Phraya Sangkharam in Uthai Thai province for funeral rites. His Majesty the King has granted royal patronage to all 23 deceased victims.
