Three people were killed and 27 injured when a train hit a coach they were travelling in at a railroad crossing in Nakhon Pathom's Nakhon Chaisi district yesterday.
The coach driver, Nipon Ladathanakrit, 32, was killed instantly, while two passengers succumbed to their injuries at a hospital. Five coach passengers remained in a critical condition last night.
The coach was carrying factory workers from a Nakhon Chaisi-based petrochemical company to Rayong's Koh Samet for a three-day trip.
The No.909 excursion train running from Bangkok to Nam Tok station in Kanchanaburi slammed into the coach's front left side as the coach was crossing the rail track at the crossing in tambon Ngiew Rai about 7.30am. The vehicle was badly damaged and ended up on its side near the tracks.
Nakhon Pathom police commander Anuphab Srinual said he instructed investigators to collect blood samples from Nipon to determine whether he had consumed alcohol or other substances before driving.
He said the area around the railroad crossing is an open space where motorists are able to notice oncoming trains from far away. Before the crash, the train had sounded its horn several times, he said.
Amnart Promsombat, Moo 4 village headman in tambon Ngiew Rai, said he heard the train sound its horn. The coach was seen trying to apply its brakes but it was too late, he said.
He said several collisions had occurred at the crossing.
Deputy Transport Minister Ormsin Chivapruck and State Railway of Thailand (SRT) governor Wuthichart Kalyanamitra yesterday inspected the crash scene.
Mr Ormsin said the train driver insisted he had sounded the horn and tried to brake, but could not stop in time.
The deputy transport minister said it was reported that music was playing loudly in the coach before the crash, a possible reason why the driver did not hear the train.
He said an automatic safety barrier has been installed at the railroad crossing but was not yet working, as it has only just been delivered to the SRT. The barrier will be in operation this week, Mr Ormsin said.
Mr Wuthichart said the rail track was damaged and will need repairs.