Thirteen secondary students were injured, three seriously, after their schoolbus was rammed at the rear by a 10-wheel truck on Highway 340 in Muang district of Chai Nat province on Friday morning (Sept 1).
The incident happened near kilometre markers 157/300 on Highway 340 from Chai Nat to Suphanburi province at about 7.30am.
Thirteen students were rushed to two nearby hospitals, three in a serious condition.
Bus driver Apirak Tantee, 30, told police he was driving 45 students to schools in the downtown area.
But as he parked on the roadside to pick up another group of students, the truck came and rammed it at the rear.
Meanwhile, Prasut Luangsorn, 43, the truck driver told police he was delivering animal feed to Phichit.
But he said as he bent down to pick up something, he accidentally fell on the cab floor. However it was too late to put on the brake after he raised his head and saw the bus was in front.
Police detained the two drivers for questioning.
This is staggering, even by Thailand’s standards. How could anyone driving a large truck, probably at speed, bend down to retrieve a piece of paper from the floor? It is nothing short of idiotic and it is to be hoped that this act of gross negligence does not result in loss of life.
Regardless, this individual should be made an example of in the hope that others will take note and start using whatever common sense Buddha has bestowed on them.
(Source:-Thai PBS)