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BANGKOK (AP) — A chartered bus overturned in eastern Thailand
early Wednesday morning, killing 18 people and injuring 31,
officials said.
The accident occurred in Prachinburi province during an
overnight journey from northern Thailand to coastal Rayong
province for a municipal study tour.
The Department of Land Transport said it would coordinate with
police in investigating the latest road accident and would
intensify inspections of all public transport vehicles to ensure
they meet safety standards.
Road safety is a major problem in Thailand, which according to
the World Health Organization ranks ninth out of 175 member
countries for road traffic deaths.
The issue was highlighted in October last year, after 23 young
students and teachers died in a horrific bus fire while on a
school field trip. Negligent maintenance and inspections were
suspected of contributing to the tragedy.
In December 2023, a bus crash in the western province of
Prachuap Khiri Khan killed 14 people and injured more than 30
others. The vehicle was carrying 49 people when it ran off the
road and hit a tree. Police investigated the possibility that
its driver had fallen asleep.
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