A Thai driver was killed and all 13 Danish passengers were injured in a minibus crash in Pai, northern Thailand.
The mountainous road between Chiang Mai and Pai , with its many bends, is very dangerous, especially when it rains, and accidents are frequent.
On Thursday, February 8, a Prempracha transport company minibus veered off a hillside road and plunged into a ravine in Pai district, Mae Hong Son province.
The Pai Samakkhi Karnkusol Rescue Foundation said on its Facebook page that the incident occurred at 8:25 p.m. on Thursday.
Five people, including the driver, were trapped in the wreckage.
Lt. Col. Suwit Boonyaphen, an inspector with the Mae Hong Son Tourist Police, who was alerted to the accident at around 9:45 p.m., said:
"The van, carrying 10 Danish women and three Danish men, deviated from Route 1095 at kilometer points 82-83 between the Mae Ya and Mae Ping checkpoints in Mae Hee commune."
The Thai driver, Mr. Barami Panjachaya, 50, succumbed to his injuries at Pai Hospital at 12:12 a.m. on February 9.
All 13 Danish passengers, aged between 19 and 28, were injured.
Four of them are in serious condition.
Several rescue teams, including the emergency medical team from Pai Hospital, police officers, tourist police and Mae Hong Son immigration police, immediately came to the aid of the injured and transported them to different hospitals.
Nine people are still hospitalized, four in Chiang Mai and five in Pai.
They were coordinated and assisted by interpreters from the Mae Hong Son Provincial Police to facilitate communication and provide necessary services to tourists.
Rescuers attempt to lift the minibus that plunged into a ravine on Pai Road in Mae Hong Son Province on Thursday, February 8. Photo: Pai Samakkhi Karnkusol Rescue Foundation
According to preliminary investigations, the van left Chiang Mai at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday for the Pai district.
The young tourists were planning to attend the popular full moon party at a restaurant in Pai.
In Pai, parties are often held for foreign tourists, prompting transport companies to increase the frequency of their minibuses to accommodate the increased number of foreign travelers.
Authorities criticized on social media
A minibus accident left two dead, including a French woman, and ten injured on the Chiang Mai-Pai route on November 10, 2023. Photo: Mgronline
Many people have commented and criticized Thai authorities on social media for failing to improve road safety for citizens, including foreign visitors.
A message posted in English on the Chiang Mai News Facebook page states:
"By the way, you would think that since this accident always happens with the same company on the same route, the authorities would be interested in its safety practices, but alas, this is Thailand."
This post refers to the fatal accident on November 10, 2023, when a minibus traveling at 83 km/h crashed on the Chiang Mai-Pai highway in Pa Pae, Mae Taeng District, Chiang Mai, killing two foreign travelers.
One of the victims was French, the other Dutch.
See: 2 dead, including a French woman, and 10 injured after a minibus accident in Thailand
See also:
French tourist drowns in diving accident in Thailand
14 people killed in bus crash in Thailand
Thailand's roads are still deadly
Source: Bangkok Post , Khaosod
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2 comments
Sad end…????
Our deepest condolences to the family of Mr. Barami Panjachaya.
I was also thinking that it was a minibus from the same company that was responsible for the accident in November!!!
There is clearly a way of driving on the part of the drivers of this transport company which is not appropriate for this road between Chiang Mai and Pai, which I personally took with my personal car several times, not wanting to use the transport of the Minibus companies, especially when we have the opportunity to follow them, to cross them or to be overtaken...
Some people drive much too fast and without adapting their speed to the weather conditions, the road layout and driving at night...
Just yesterday, returning from shopping in town, I went home around 8:00 p.m. and at that time, when it was very dark and without street lighting, I was followed by a pick-up truck with all its lights off and I passed or overtook several mopeds and motorcycles without rear lights, over a distance of barely a few dozen kilometers!!!
Turning on your headlights not only to see in the dark, but also TO BE SEEN by other drivers as soon as natural light diminishes, does not seem to be a given for Thai drivers...
Driving education through reports and educational and didactic programs is non-existent on TV channels and social networks,
However, it is a priority and an urgent necessity if we want to improve road safety and reduce accident statistics.
But no!! No one, not even the officials at the Ministry of Transport, have thought of it so far!!!
Yet, elementary as a reflection.
How can we not make a direct connection between the level of knowledge of the highway code and active and passive driving education for vehicle drivers, in relation to accident statistics?
There is also no reform for obtaining a driving licence, which is still obtained in 2 days, without a theoretical test of knowledge of the highway code, without a practical driving test in a real environment (50 kilometre driving test on national roads, country roads and urban driving) and without a licence period or provisional licence before being able to obtain the definitive licence...
With all these shortcomings, to get around during holidays far from home, I prefer to rent a car at my arrival airport and not use taxis, buses, minivans or tourist coaches and put my life in the hands of immature drivers.
It is dangerous enough to be at the mercy of other drunk, tired or under the influence drivers driving a motorcycle, car, long-distance bus or semi-trailer truck while driving yourself!
The road, whether it is a 4 or 6 lane highway, a 2 lane country or mountain road or a network of city roads, remains a permanent danger in Thailand... and considering myself to be a responsible "European" driver when I get into my car, I cannot help but think that, behind or in front of every bend, every overtaking, there may be an irresponsible, dangerous driver, because he thinks he knows how to drive, when he has no idea what "knowing how to drive" means...
Just look at the number of drivers in parking lots who don't know how to reverse into a parking space without having to do it 3 or 4 times!!!
It is a reality that we must also live with...
And to return to the accident of this minibus, one last thought: how is it that those responsible for infrastructure and road safety have not yet reacted for a long time by marking out and securing this particularly dangerous, mountainous road, full of turns, slopes and steep descents, with reinforced safety rails for large vehicles, and not just the traditional "rail", but a triple rail capable of holding back vehicles such as minivans, coaches and other passenger transport, and this, for ALL the turns of this very busy and touristy road!!!
The authorities' inaction and laxity are two factors in which they are responsible for the frequency and severity of accidents!