Owner of Thailand School Bus That Caught Fire and Killed 23 Expresses Regret for Tragedy
SONGWIT CHINABUT – The owner of Chinabut Tour Company has expressed deep regret following a devastating bus fire in Thailand that killed 23 people, including 20 children and three teachers.
He attended the victims’ funerals to personally apologize to the grieving families and offered compensation of 50,000 baht (about P85,105) for each victim, promising ongoing support for the injured passengers receiving medical care.
The tragic incident occurred on October 1, 2024, while the bus was on a field trip to the Ayutthaya and Nonthaburi provinces, carrying 44 passengers, including 38 students and six teachers. The bus lost control after its front right tire malfunctioned, crashed into another vehicle, and scraped against a concrete barrier, starting a fire fueled by compressed natural gas in the bus’s lower section.
The driver, Saman Chanput, was arrested and charged with reckless driving, failing to help those in need, and not reporting the accident. Reports indicate that Chanput tried to use a fire extinguisher from another bus to put out the flames but was unsuccessful and fled the scene in fear. Deputy Regional Police Chief Chayanont Meesati noted that Chanput was later seen on security footage trying to open doors to rescue passengers.
Ongoing investigations are examining whether the bus company followed safety rules. Chinabut stated that the bus had undergone safety checks twice a year and that the gas tanks were certified safe. However, police discovered a gas leak at the front of the bus, revealing that of the 11 tanks of compressed natural gas installed, five were not registered. The leak came from one of these unregistered tanks, which had not been checked by engineers.
This tragedy highlights Thailand’s serious traffic safety problems, with about 20,000 deaths each year, many due to careless driving. The accident has sparked public calls for better safety measures in student transportation, especially after a series of recent school bus crashes. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has expressed condolences and plans to visit the families of the victims.
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