A freight train driver has been charged with negligence causing death after a collision with a bus at a railway crossing in central Bangkok on Saturday left eight people dead and 32 injured. The public bus had stopped on the tracks near an airport rail station when the cargo train crashed into it, causing the bus to burst into flames.
Police said the driver's reckless conduct led to the fatalities. The bus driver is also expected to face charges once he recovers sufficiently to be questioned. Investigators are considering whether to bring additional charges.
Deputy Transport Minister Siripong Angkasakulkiat said preliminary findings indicated the bus had stopped on the tracks at a red light, preventing the crossing barriers from lowering properly. The train, carrying containers, was unable to stop in time to avoid the crash, triggering a fire that engulfed the bus and several nearby cars.
Eyewitnesses described chaos at the scene. Kittipong Raksa, who had parked near the tracks, said he heard a thud and then saw the train dragging the bus. He later found a person with a broken leg trapped under his car. Another commuter, Thanphisit Nawatkonoangkoon, said the accident should not have happened and urged drivers to understand traffic laws.
Forensic authorities said the eight victims were so badly burned that conventional identification methods could not be used. They are relying on DNA samples from relatives, with results expected by Tuesday. The Bangkok Mass Transit Authority has announced monetary compensation for the families of the deceased and survivors.
Thailand's roads are among the deadliest globally due to weak enforcement of safety standards, according to the WHO. Earlier this year, 31 people were killed when a construction crane collapsed onto a passenger train.
