Four killed in passenger van crash

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Four killed in passenger van crash

Published: 27/01/2012 at 04:23 PM
Online news: Local News

A passenger van ran into the back of a pickup truck in Suphan Buri on Friday morning, killing four people, including a nine-month-old girl and a 10-year-old boy, police said.

Seventeen people were injured from the crash and were taken to Uthong Hospital. One of the them, a nine-month-old girl, died later in the hospital.

Two of the injured passengers were later transferred to Chao Phaya Yommarat Hospital for surgery.

Uthong police officer Natthanan Somwong said the Bangkok-Dan Chang passenger van slammed into the back of a pickup truck on Uthong road in Suphan Buri province.

The passenger van overturned and plunged into a five-metre canal beside the road.

However, the 39-year-old van driver told the police that he had to move into the left lane as he approached an intersection because a car in front of him was indicating it would turn right.

He said the pickup, travelling at high speed, ran into the side of the van as he turned into the left lane.

Police continued investigating.

The van, pictured below, suffered extensive damage to the front and left side.

Photos by Sathien Thuamchan

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samut
Post : 132
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Discussion 13 : 28/01/2012 at 08:44 PM13
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One of the scary things is the second pictures which I guess is related to the accident; these guys are smiling……! For the rest I can only say “Just another ordinary day” in Thailand.
heartie
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Discussion 12 : 27/01/2012 at 11:14 PM12
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Maybe I'm just really lucky, but I can't remember a time when a van driver ever drove recklessly or dangerously over the speed limit. In fact, I've seen my van driver (on more than one occasion) swerve carefully to avoid hitting vehicles that were driving recklessly or carelessly, including one police officer! Yes, a police officer almost caused us to collide and he smiled out of embarrassment at our driver who did everything right. People in that van took a deep breath as it was a really close call. Accidents happen, but I think most of the van drivers are very good drivers.
ohfkvu3q
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Discussion 11 : 27/01/2012 at 10:16 PM11
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Van driver seems at fault. When a vehicle in front of you signals
to turn you are to slow down, not change lanes without checking to see
if the lane you desire is clear of fast moving vehicles. He was moving in
a slow lane to fast lane. If you are approaching an intersection it is
never a good time to make a lane change, as other drivers see the green and accelerate.
Defensive Driving 101.
These van drivers are rarely trained professionals.
smiles999
Post : 288
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Discussion 10 : 27/01/2012 at 09:07 PM10
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Hi, the cardinal rule -- no product works without the system...-- we just increased the mini-vans, but the relevant system to control this volume is inadequate and needs a complete review: until then, more accidents will happen !
tommyuk
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Discussion 9 : 27/01/2012 at 08:40 PM9
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These mini van drivers are very agressive drivers.
There is no regulation over them.
More people are going to be killed.
They need some speed regulator to be fitted to these mini vans
as most drivers drive far to fast and un-safe.
ricardofel
Post : 79
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Discussion 8 : 27/01/2012 at 08:12 PM8
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So what else is new? The inability of the government to enforce rules of the law....these are poor and middle class people and protecting them is of no concern to politicians...period!!! It's one of a long list of an incompetent government and that includes the previous ones as well. A perfect example of why Thailand will always be a third world country.
drsmith
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Discussion 7 : 27/01/2012 at 06:06 PM7
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Until someone of some importance is killed, nothing will be done. Do not hold your breath as important people do not ride in mini-vans. The government needs to quit bowing down and start enacting some exacting qualifications for mini-van drivers, governors to control max speed and other readily available mechanisms of safety. How many more have to die, so the mini-van companies can continue to profit?
med142
Post : 379
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Discussion 6 : 27/01/2012 at 05:41 PM6
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you know this is so sad.Having seen the pictures on the news, yes well the van driver is correct,
he was hit in the side.At some speed also.
I think that everyone here has seen how some drivers are and has had near hits also. I can not belive the speed of these drivers and the risks they take also espcially on congested roads such as the one i was on going to the cambodian border near surin recently. It was scary and so dangerous. No police to be seen also.
rva
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Discussion 5 : 27/01/2012 at 05:40 PM5
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Sick. Riding these things is unnerving.

@Rickbkk... exactly. They slam the brakes as much as they slam the gas, thereby negating any "help" that going at Concorde speed was giving them.
heartie
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Discussion 4 : 27/01/2012 at 05:22 PM4
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'A passenger van ran into the back of a pickup truck...He said the pickup, travelling at high speed, ran into the side of the van as he turned into the left lane.'
I'm really confused by this story. Who hit whom? Both accounts can't possibly be accurate, can they?