Thailand: 33 tourists injured in Pattaya bus crash

On January 2, 2025, a bus carrying Russian tourists crashed into a toll booth on Pattaya Road, injuring many.

The accident occurred around 6:46 p.m. at the Pong toll plaza in Chonburi province, near Pattaya.

The Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Rescue Center, traffic police, tourist police and other rescue teams responded immediately.

The bus not only crashed into the toll booth, but also hit a barrier before hitting the rear of a black Toyota Fortuner.

The chaos was compounded by an oil leak from the bus, which posed an additional danger as the smell became airborne.

Good Samaritans sprang into action, helping to evacuate passengers from the damaged bus.

In the chaos, some injured people were found outside the vehicle, having been ejected upon impact.

A total of 33 people were injured, six of them seriously and 27 slightly.

Among the victims, 30 were in the bus and three in the Toyota Fortuner.

First aid was administered on the scene before the injured were quickly transported to nearby hospitals.

Ms. Addy Yoosaran, 44, a highway security guard, witnessed the incident.

She described how the Fortuner driver was slowing down to pass the toll lane when the bus, driven by Mr. Sayan Kumpitak, 74, suddenly changed lanes from one blocked by traffic cones to an open lane.

This maneuver caused the bus driver to lose control and crash into the toll booth, the barrier and, subsequently, the Fortuner.

She stressed the shock of the event and the urgency to evacuate due to the oil leak.

The bus had departed from Koh Samet in Rayong province and was carrying 42 people, mostly Russian tourists, including the driver, heading to Pattaya when the accident occurred.

The sequence of events was captured on CCTV, showing the bus traveling at high speed before the crash.

Police Lieutenant Nattapol Ritthirong of Traffic Police Division 1 took charge of the investigation, retaining CCTV footage as evidence.

Initial reports suggest that brake failure may have played a role in the crash, although further questioning of the driver is needed to confirm this.

See also:

Thailand road accidents leave 215 dead and 1,354 injured in 5 days

Public bus accidents in Thailand increase by 46.5%

Road accidents in Thailand cause 48 deaths per day

Thailand: 5% of CNG buses fail safety checks

Thailand: 50 foreign tourists narrowly escape bus fire

Thailand: Terrible revelation in the bus fire that killed 20 children

Source: The Pattaya News