National —
At 11:30 PM on October 1st, 2024, Pol. Maj. Gen. Chayanon Meesati, the Deputy Provincial Police Commander of Pathum Thani, and relevant officers questioned a bus driver involved in the tragic accident that killed many students and teachers from Wat Khao Phraya school during a field trip.
After the incident, Mr. Samarn Chanput, 48, the bus driver, reportedly attempted to flee. Pathum Thani police, after an extensive search, found him at his wife’s house in Ang Thong province, reported the police.
According to the police, Samarn was brought to Khu Khot Police Station for interrogation. Pol. Maj. Gen. Chayanon confirmed that Samarn will face serious charges, including reckless driving causing death, and fleeing the scene without assisting victims, in violation of Section 291 of the Penal Code and the Road Traffic Act.
In his initial statement, Samarn claimed that while driving at 70-80 kilometers per hour, the bus lost control after hitting a pothole, possibly causing a tire to burst or an airbag to deploy. The front wheels pulled sharply to the right, resulting in a collision with another vehicle.
Samarn allegedly tried to steer the bus, but it scraped against a barrier, leading to the tragic fire. He admitted to fleeing the scene after initially attempting to extinguish the fire with a fire extinguisher from another bus, according to the police.
Further reports reveal that the bus, which was first registered on February 19th, 1970, had been in operation for 54 years. Although registered as a non-scheduled passenger vehicle with 41 seats, there were discrepancies regarding its fuel system.
The bus was not registered as equipped with an NGV (natural gas) system, but the insurance company’s records showed it was using NGV, reported Thai national media.
Thai authorities are continuing their investigation, including reviewing the bus’s maintenance records and insurance documents, and will file additional charges if negligence is confirmed, according to the police.
