One dead, 20 hurt in bus crash

PRACHUAP KHIRI KHAN: One passenger from Hong Kong died instantly and 20 Thais were injured when a tour bus carrying passengers from Phuket to Bangkok overturned on the highway early yesterday morning. One of the injured is Pol Lt Col Wuttichai Kumphut, formerly deputy superintendent of Chalong Police Station. He and other passengers were taken to Prachuap Khiri Khan Hospital for treatment. The bus driver is reported to have fallen asleep at the wheel of the 24-seat Volvo bus, owned by Phuket Central Tour. In December, a bus owned by the same company crashed in Phuket, killing three and injuring 36. A spokesperson for Phuket Central Tour told the Gazette that the company will pay compensation for the injuries and the death, but would not disclose the amount being considered.