PHUKET, Thailand – A crane hook became entangled with the glass fiber roof structure of an open-top tourist bus, tearing off a section of the upper deck and injuring four people.
Kranhaken verfängt sich am Oberdeck
The incident occurred on June 9th around 2:30 PM near the Nawamin Plaza on Phuket Road in Talad Yai. A parked crane, operated by Prayoon Chumsri, 69, was situated at a work site. As an open-top electric bus, driven by Thanakorn Charoensong-ek, 69, passed by, the crane hook caught on the glass fiber structure above the upper passenger deck. The impact ripped a portion of the roof directly into the seating area.
Vier Verletzte – auch Touristen betroffen
Falling debris struck two passengers on the bus: Chollada Labsaeng, 23, and Chinese national Shan Lu, 40. Simultaneously, a motorcycle with a Yala license plate entered the path of the debris. The riders, identified as Muhammad Ruswan Saeleh, 22, and his Filipino passenger Joseph Ballaran Bonghanoy, 40, were also hit and injured by fragments.
Rettungskräfte brachten alle ins Krankenhaus
Police and emergency services arrived promptly at the scene. The injured individuals received initial treatment on-site before being transported to a hospital for further medical attention. Authorities have not yet provided details regarding the severity of their injuries. The accident site was cordoned off for evidence collection following the recovery of the debris.
Der Bus: Kostenloser E-Shuttle der Stadt
The bus involved is one of several fully electric sightseeing vehicles operated by the Phuket City Municipality. Its open design without a roof is intended to offer tourists unobstructed views of the Old Town’s architecture. The city launched this complimentary shuttle service at the end of last year as part of its initiative to promote sustainable tourism in the historic district.
Polizei sichert Beweise und ermittelt weiter
Police Lieutenant Bandita Thong-aun, deputy investigator at the Phuket City Police Station, documented the accident scene and gathered evidence. Photographs of the crane, the detached roof section, and the debris were added to the case file. The police have not yet assigned responsibility for the accident and have announced further investigations will precede any legal assessment of the case.