Chiang Mai bus crash: 'Driver was speeding to escape earlier accident'

The injured lying on the road waiting to be sent to the hospital in Chiang Mai

PETALING JAYA:  At least 13 Malaysian tourists were killed and many others injured when their bus hit a power pole and ran off a mountainous road in Chiang Mai’s Doi Saket district at 11.30am on Sunday.

Police said the bus was running on national highway No 118 through Ban Pang Fan village between Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai provinces in the North when the driver lost control at the 43th kilometre.

Rescue worker Uthai Pollaharn said the bus was fleeing after colliding with a car in the Danmae Kajan area of Chiang Rai. The driver of the car, Krissana Fongdawirat, was not hurt, so he chased after the bus and alerted police only to find that it had crashed.

When the bus arrived at the area, it hit another car before skidding off the road, rammed the pole and slammed into a big rock and trees.

Police found the bus severely damaged. Rescue workers used tools and equipment to cut parts of the vehicle to get to the dead and injured victims.

Malaysian ambassador Datuk Nazirah Hussain confirmed that 13 Malaysians died in the incident. 

Nazirah said Thai police will not be able to release details of the victims tonight after the investigations were completed.

Nazirah said in the incident at Doi Saket district, the bus with 22 Malaysians collided with a Nissan truck just after noon. Four others are in critical condition and another five sustained other injuries.

Besides the Malaysians, the bus operated by Weerapan Tour was carrying three other passengers, a tour guide, a bus conductor and the driver, identified as Somporn Bualuang, 58, police said.

The injured passengers were sent to Doi Saket Hospital in Tambon Choengdoi in the province.

Uthai said there were many car accidents in the area but this was the worst with many casualties.

Chiang Mai Governor Pavin Chamniprasart rushed to the scene and inspected the wreckage. - The Nation/Asia News Network

More stories:

13 Malaysians killed in Chiang Mai tourist bus crash

Chiang Mai bus crash: Wisma Putra confirms 13 dead

Chiang Mai bus crash: Malaysian Embassy awaiting further details