Tour bus U-turn results in fatal collision with motorbike in Chon Buri

A tragic accident occurred yesterday at 10.36pm on Highway 36 in Chon Buri when a tour bus made a U-turn and collided with a motorcycle, resulting in a fatality. Rescue units and local police were promptly dispatched to the scene.

The tour bus showed damage on the storage compartment door near the rear wheels. Nearby, a Yamaha sports bike was found wrecked and engulfed in flames. Rescue personnel managed to extinguish the fire using fire extinguishers.

The motorcycle rider, 37 year old Kritphum Khanthong was found severely injured on the road. Rescue workers performed CPR in an attempt to save his life, but he succumbed to his injuries shortly after. His family arrived at the scene, overcome with grief, and were given initial medical assistance by the rescue team.

Friends of the deceased, who were riding together, reported that the area was dimly lit when the accident occurred. They claimed that the tour bus made a sudden U-turn, leaving Kritphum, who was riding straight, unable to brake in time, resulting in a collision and subsequent fire. They requested that police investigate whether U-turns are permissible at that specific spot.

The driver, 35 year old Sakrit Muekae, argued that he did not make a sudden U-turn. He stated that he saw the motorcycle approaching in the right lane and, due to the bus’s size, had to move close to the left lane to turn. He claimed the motorcycle swerved from the right lane to the left, attempting to overtake the bus, and subsequently hit the middle of the bus.

Sakrit believed that had the motorcycle stayed in the right lane and not turned left, the collision would not have occurred.

The investigating officer, Police Lieutenant Sanya Jaichan, conducted a thorough investigation at the scene, taking photographs for evidence. He detained the bus driver for further questioning.

The deceased’s body was transported to Bang Lamung Hospital for preservation, pending the family’s completion of the necessary documentation for funeral proceedings, reported KhaoSod.