TRANG, THAILAND – A packed double-decker coach on the Phuket–Betong route veered off the road in Trang province in the early hours, injuring 30 people and leaving the driver seriously hurt.
Overnight coach overturns in roadside ditch
The first-class, air-conditioned bus left the carriageway at around 02:00 local time on Phetkasem Road in Huai Yot district and toppled into a roadside ditch opposite Samakkhi Sueksa School. Police and rescue units from several districts responded immediately after alerts that a passenger coach had lost control and overturned at the side of the road.
Rescue operation took about two hours
When emergency teams arrived, the double-decker lay on its right side in a ditch, with the front of the vehicle heavily damaged. To reach trapped passengers, rescuers opened the rear window and guided people out of the overturned bus to safety, with the operation taking about two hours until all occupants were freed.
Thirty of 52 on board injured
Authorities reported that 52 people were on board, including 49 passengers, one driver and two bus attendants. A total of 30 people were injured, more than ten of them seriously, and were taken to Huai Yot Hospital and Wang Wiset Hospital for treatment.
Driver seriously hurt but in stable condition
The 52-year-old driver, Sirichai Tang-sengki, suffered the most severe injuries, including a serious leg injury and a head wound, and was taken to hospital without delay. Medical staff stabilised him at the scene before transferring him for further treatment, and his condition was described as serious but stable.
Long-distance route from Phuket to Betong
According to the information provided, the coach had departed Phuket at 22:00 on 14 February and was scheduled to arrive in the southern town of Betong at about 11:30 on 15 February. The route links a major tourist destination with a more remote district in Yala province, with a scheduled journey time of over twelve hours including several planned breaks.
Bus slid 80 meters before striking parked truck
Initial investigations indicated the bus lost control and skidded for around 80 meters along the roadside before hitting a parked truck and then overturning. Police said the exact circumstances leading to the loss of control remained under investigation, and technical experts were due to inspect the vehicle for possible defects.
Conflicting accounts of cause
The driver told rescuers that a motorcycle had cut in closely in front of the bus, forcing him to swerve before the vehicle began to skid.
“A motorcycle drove very close in front of the bus, so I had to evade it before the vehicle began to skid.”
said Sirichai Tang-sengki, driver.
However, a patrol officer who was nearby contradicted this account, stating he had not seen any motorcycle at the scene.
“I did not see any motorcycle.”
said a patrol police officer. Police said they were examining both versions and reviewing physical evidence at the crash site.
Passengers report sudden loss of control
Some passengers told officers the driver had not been speeding before the crash and described an abrupt loss of control without prior signs of risky driving.
“The driver was not going too fast before the accident; there was a sudden loss of control without any earlier sign of dangerous driving.”
said one passenger. Other passengers were unable to give precise accounts of how the crash unfolded, as many had been asleep at the time, and police were continuing to question everyone involved.
Replacement bus and ongoing inquiries
The bus company dispatched a replacement vehicle so that uninjured and lightly injured passengers could continue their journey towards Betong. Police announced they would re-interview the driver, crew and passengers once the driver’s condition allowed, in order to clarify the exact cause, and would assess both the driver’s fitness to operate the vehicle and any potential technical faults.
Broader concerns over long-distance bus safety
The crash raised renewed concerns over safety in Thailand’s long-distance bus sector. In recent years, there had been repeated serious accidents involving interprovincial coaches, often attributed to driver fatigue or technical problems, prompting fresh debate about how to improve road safety standards.