MAHA SARAKHAM -- Three people were killed and nine others injured, two of them seriously, when a tour bus collided head-on with a pickup truck in Kantharawichai district early Sunday, Thairath Online reported.
The accident occurred at 2.40am between kilometres 18 and 19 on Thinanond road near Ban Khok Ma in tambon Khok Phra.
Police learned from passengers of the tour bus, which was heading for Nakhon Phanom's Renu Nakhon district from Bangkok, that the driver was trying to overtake another vehicle when it collided head-on with an oncoming Mitsubishi Triton pickup with employees of a telephone company on board.
Three men in the pickup were killed. Two were identified as Viroj Sikalang and Saravuth Sikalang. The other was a Laotian who was not identified.
Virat Thongsophon, 51, the driver of the tour bus, and Pacharida Kaeomaneechai, 29, the bus hostess, were seriously injured. They were admitted to Maha Sarakham Hospital. Seven passengers were slightly injured.