BANGKOK, THAILAND – Police in Bangrak District began an investigation after a 64-year-old woman was struck and killed by a city bus on Surawong Road on Tuesday afternoon.
Heavy rain and poor visibility during the crash
The collision occurred around 15:00 on Surawong Road in Bangrak, during a period of intense rainfall and heavy traffic. Apinya, aged 64, attempted to cross the multi-lane road but did not reach the opposite side before a Bangkok Mass Transit bus, number 2-2, traveling from Si Phraya Pier to Pak Kret (Nonthaburi), struck her near the Sub-Intersection.
Police confirmed that the location had no marked pedestrian crossing, leaving the woman exposed to vehicles moving through rain-slick lanes. Witnesses told officers that the poor weather conditions limited visibility for both the pedestrian and the bus operator.
“The driver could not see her in time,”
said an unnamed eyewitness, interviewed by Bangrak Police investigators.
Driver stopped after witnesses alerted him
According to police, the bus driver did not immediately sense the collision and continued moving several meters before drivers and pedestrians shouted for him to stop. He exited the vehicle and attempted to assist, but witnesses reported that Apinya was already pinned under the right front wheel.
Emergency personnel from the Ruam Katanyu Foundation reached the site within minutes and conducted rescue operations, but the woman was pronounced dead at the scene.
Bangrak Police launch formal inquiry
Bangrak Police Division investigators opened a formal inquiry to determine whether the driver acted negligently under Bangkok’s wet-weather safety regulations for public transport. Authorities have not yet disclosed what penalties or disciplinary measures may follow.
Other recent bus incidents in Bangkok region
Reports from Pathum Thani province indicated that on 23 October, a bus number ปอ 39 collided with a truck carrying concrete piles, injuring several passengers. Earlier in the year, in February, a bus number 167 slid on an oil patch near the Mahai Sawan Intersection, though no fatalities were recorded.
Bangkok’s public transport safety record has faced scrutiny in recent years, with recurring collisions linked to adverse weather, poor visibility, and mechanical risk factors.
“I heard screams – then everything went silent,”
said a witness speaking softly to police officers at the scene.
Summary of key details
– Victim: Apinya, 64 years old, resident of Bangkok
– Date & time: Tuesday, around 15:00
– Location: Surawong Road, Bangrak District
– Bus route: No. 2-2, Si Phraya Pier to Pak Kret
– Responders: Ruam Katanyu Foundation
– Investigating authority: Bangrak Police Division
– Weather condition: heavy rainfall, low visibility
Police have urged Bangkok drivers and pedestrians to exercise heightened caution during monsoon rainfall and confirmed that investigations remain ongoing into Apinya’s fatal accident.