Phuket MICE tourists in Patong bus crash

PHUKET: Another bus full of passengers in Phuket, this time for a seminar, crashed into a house at the bottom of Patong Hill this morning.

Nine of the passengers were taken to Patong Hospital for treatment of minor injuries.

Lt Thanakrit Kiawyai of Patong Police told the Phuket Gazette that the accident happened at about 6:50am.

“The bus had about 30 passengers from Bangkok on board. They are in Phuket for a seminar at the Pearl Hotel in Phuket Town,” he said.

The bus, belonging to Kulsawat Tour, crashed into a tuk-tuk and then into a house at the bottom of the hill near Wat Suwan Khiriwong (Patong Temple).

“The bus driver might have been unfamiliar with the road because he is from Bangkok,” Lt Thanakrit suggested.

Lt Thanakrit named the nine injured as Mr Rittichai Srihamart, Miss Arunrat Phokaew, Mr Assadayuth Temwiriyakul, Mr Somjit Intijun, Miss Pimalai Yatpleum, Miss Nitawan Kummart and Mr Sitichai Reungchailert.

Bus driver Chalermsri Wongkun and tuk-tuk driver Wichean Tungjit suffered only minor injuries.

The crash was the latest in a long series of bus accidents in the same area.

— Orawin Narabal