SARABURI, THAILAND – A school field trip ended in chaos when three double-decker buses collided at the Huai Bong junction, injuring 24 students and a driver.
Convoy to science park ends in pile-up
Around midday on 28 November, a convoy of five buses from Rahu School in Bueng Sam Phan district, Phetchabun province, was heading to the Science Centre and the Dream World theme park when the crash occurred at the junction. According to CCTV footage described by a witness, the first two buses slowed and stopped before the third bus failed to brake in time and slammed into the middle vehicle, pushing it into the bus in front.
“The first two buses braked and stopped, but the third bus drove straight into the middle bus.”
said an eyewitness, describing the CCTV recordings.
Students injured and rushed to hospital
Police and rescue workers from the Sawang Rattanatrai Thammasathan Foundation were deployed immediately to the scene. The situation was described as harrowing, with injured students crying and screaming as first responders provided emergency care.
“Injured students were screaming and crying.”
said a first responder.
24 students hurt, driver trapped in wreckage
Among the 24 injured were 10 girls and 14 boys from the lower secondary level, all of whom were stabilised and transported as quickly as possible to Saraburi Hospital. The most difficult task for rescuers was freeing one bus driver who was trapped inside the crushed vehicle. He was later taken to hospital as the 25th injured person.
Rescue with hydraulic cutters
Rescue teams used hydraulic cutting equipment to reach the trapped driver, working for several minutes through twisted metal before they could extract him. The three buses involved sustained severe damage, but there were no fatalities, bringing visible relief to accompanying teachers.
Police probe cause of collision
Chalerm Phra Kiat police officers documented the scene extensively, taking photographs and bringing the bus drivers in for questioning. Investigators planned to interview the injured driver after his recovery to clarify why the third bus could not brake in time.
Technical checks and legal steps ahead
Technical inspections of the vehicles were still pending, and authorities stated that final legal steps would only be taken once the expert reports were available. The findings are expected to determine whether mechanical issues or other factors contributed to the chain collision.
Trip cancelled, students end up in hospital
The planned visit to the Science Centre and Dream World was immediately cancelled, as was a scheduled lunch stop at the Krua Baan Suan Restaurant. Instead of spending the day at educational and leisure venues, the students spent it in the clinic.
Renewed warning over road safety
The accident once again highlighted the dangers on Thailand’s roads, especially during bus journeys involving schoolchildren. While concern at the scene was high, relief that the outcome had not been even more tragic was widely shared.