Thai Bus Driver Surrenders After Tragic School Fire Kills 23

 

The driver of a bus that caught fire in Thailand, resulting in the deaths of 20 schoolchildren and three teachers, turned himself in to police on October 2. The tragic incident occurred on October 1 when gas tanks on the 50-year-old bus ignited, following a tyre burst, as the vehicle was en route to Bangkok.

In the aftermath, authorities suspended all school field trips nationwide and vowed to conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of the fire. The single-decker bus was carrying 44 passengers when it quickly became engulfed in flames, leaving many trapped inside. Forensic teams began working on October 2 to identify the victims, as the nation grappled with the heartbreaking details of the tragedy.

Reports have emerged of young students trapped in the back of the bus, unable to escape through emergency exits, and teachers desperately trying to protect them as the flames spread. One heart-wrenching account describes a surviving student, whose younger brother perished in the fire, tearfully returning to his hometown in northern Thailand, repeatedly crying, "he didn’t come back with me," while being consoled by his mother.

The bus driver initially fled the scene but surrendered to authorities the following day. He was arrested and charged with negligence and reckless driving. Officials have pledged to take steps to prevent such incidents from happening again.

Investigators and officials from various agencies are currently examining evidence at the accident site. People have begun placing flowers, milk, and snacks at the scene to honor the victims.

The accident took place on Vibhavadi Road in Pathum Thani when one of the bus’s front tyres blew out, causing the fire. Both the bus and a Mercedes sedan involved in the crash were removed from the site for further inspection. Initial findings revealed that the bus had been illegally modified and equipped with multiple compressed natural gas (CNG) tanks. Officials from the Department of Energy, the Department of Land Transport, and other agencies are involved in the investigation.

An emergency operations center has been set up at the victims' school to assist affected families. Uthai Thani governor, Theerapat Khachamat, mentioned that DNA samples were being collected from the victims’ families to aid in identifying the deceased. The samples will be sent to the forensic unit at the Police General Hospital in Bangkok.

As of now, it remains unclear when the bodies will be transferred to Uthai Thani, as the autopsies are expected to take time due to the condition of the remains. However, the injured passengers are being transported back to their hometown.

Sunthorn Piankasiwit, 50, the mother of a trainee teacher and her young child believed to be among the victims, expressed her grief. She tearfully shared that she never imagined such a tragedy would befall her family, though she still clings to hope that her loved ones may not be among the deceased as identification continues.