A pickup passenger was killed and 19 other people injured when a tour bus rear-ended a line of vehicles stopped at intersection traffic lights in Phon district of Khon Kaen early on Thursday.
Initial reports in Thai media put the number of injured at between 12 and 20. The crash occurred around 12.30am at Phon Hospital intersection on Mittraphap Road, Pol Col Thanomsit Wongwicharn, chief of Phon police said.
Police and rescuers arriving at the scene found an air-conditioned tour bus with Khon Kaen licence plates with its front stove in and five other damaged vehicles that had been waiting at the intersection lights – a crumpled pickup truck at the rear, 2 ten wheeled trucks, a van and a cargo truck.
A man identified only as Amnart, 53, was found dead in the passenger seat of the wrecked pickup. His 24-year-old son was in the driver’s seat and badly injured.
The bus driver, identified as Siripong Amnatrat, told police he was unable to brake in time to avoid hitting the vehicles waiting at the intersection lights.
Pol Lt Col Chanrophas Chaila, deputy investigation chief at Phon police station, said on Thursday afternoon that investigators were checking whether the tour bus was properly registered as a hire vehicle and had group insurance.