BURI RAM — Thirty six people, mostly novice monks, were injured when their chartered bus was involved in a collision with a 10-wheeler and an 18-wheel trailer-truck during steady rain in Prakhon Chai district.
The accident occurred at kilometre marker 9 on Highway No 24 in tambon Tago Dapi late on Thursday night.
Pol Lt Panas Prodprakone, duty officer at Prakon Chai police station, said the driver of a double-decker bus carrying about 60 novices and laymen failed to overtake a car in front of him and collided head on with a 10-wheeler truck loaded with cassava.
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The 10-wheeler was then rear-ended by an 18-wheel trailer truck carrying bags of cement that was following behind it and failed to brake in time.
Rescue workers used cutting tools to rescue the passengers from the heavily damaged bus. It took them three hours to remove the bus driver, who was pinned in his seat.
The injured passengers were sent to Prakhon Chai District Hospital and Chalerm Phrakiat District Hospital. Four of them were in serious condition and were transferred to Buri Ram Hospital.
It was raining steadiy at the time of the three-vehicle collision, Pol Lt Panas said.
The novices were heading to Wat Khao Sala in Buachet district of Surin after taking part in a summer ordination ceremony at Wat Bowonniwet Vihara in Bangkok, Pol Lt Panas added.