SURAT THANI: Nineteen pupils, aged 6-11, were injured when their school van was hit head-on by a car that swerved to avoid dogs fighting on the road in Ban Na San district on Monday morning.
The accident was reported from Chalerm Phrakiat Road in Na San municipality about 7.15am. The blue van registered in Bangkok overturned during the collision and suffered major damage.
Nearby residents and rescue workers helped the 19 shocked and crying pupils out of the wreck, but only with some difficulty as they were lying on top of each other and caught between the seats of the overturned vehicle. The children were taken to Ban Na San Hospital, where four of them were referred to Surat Thani Hospital for treatment of head injuries.
The other vehicle was a black Nissan March car also registered in Bangkok. It also had major damage.
Police said Wararee Thanyalaksanakul, 24, was driving the car out of Na San municipality, she swerved to avoid some dogs that were fighting in the middle of the four-lane road, and hit the school van head-on.
Van driver Sathit Ketnarai, 49, was taking the children from Wiang Sa district and outer areas of Na San district to schools in Na San municipality.
The heavily damaged Nissan March after the collision with the school van. (Photo by Supapong Chaolan)