Chinese tourists safe after brakes fail on Phuket’s Patong Hill

PHUKET: The driver of a Phuket tour bus avoided a serious accident on Patong Hill this morning by running the bus off the road before driving down the steep slope on the east side of the hill.

Bus driver Sutthichai Pohad was ferrying about 20 Chinese tourists from Patong to Phuket Town at about 8am when he realized the brakes were failing, explained Sakchai Chunyong of the Thung Thong Police.

“Mr Sutthichai was worried he wouldn’t be able to stop the bus, so he drove it off the road at the top of the hill before the vehicle gained too much speed,” he told the Phuket Gazette.

“Luckily, he avoided plunging down the hill with no brakes.”

All passengers on board were safe and no injuries were reported, Maj Sakchai said.

“The Chinese tour company sent another bus to pick up the tourists so they could continue on to Phuket Town,” he added.

— Pannaphak Takrue