TotallyOz Posted March 21, 2007 Posted March 21, 2007 A tour bus on Tuesday plunged off Thailand's Friendship Highway, overturned and burst into flames, killing at least 29 people and injuring another 30. According to Pol Col Nisakorn Boonthanon the driver of the air-conditioned bus from Yasothon to Bangkok lost control of the vehicle on Mitr-traparp (Friendship) Road in Muak Lek district, Saraburi, and crashed. The bus immediately burst into flames, allowing little time for the passengers to escape. Rescuers found 28 burnt bodies including that of the bus driver, and another died in a nearby hospital. More than 30 were injured. Survivors told police that a small fire had broken out under the bus before the crash, apparently in the brake mechanism, but the driver ignored their warnings before he lost control of the vehicle. xxxxx Earlier story (BangkokPost.com) - At least 28 people were burnt to death and 13 others injured when a passenger bus travelling from Yasothon to Bangkok veered off the road and caught fire in Saraburi province Tuesday. The air-conditioned bus of Sa-ngaun Yanyon company lost control when it was on Mitr-traparp Road in Muak Lek district, Saraburi, at around 3 p.m., police said. After the bus left the road, it caught fire. The fire occurred so suddenly that it provided no time for most passengers to escape. When rescue units arrived at the scene, they found 28 burnt bodies including the bus driver, police said. More than 33 others were injured and rushed to Muak Lek hospital. Before the bus caught fire, it was reportedly had problems with the brakes, causing the driver to park the bus to fix the problem before resuming the trip. Police suspected that the brakes might have been the cause of the fire. http://www.bangkokpost.net/breaking_news/b...s.php?id=117562 Quote
