PHETCHABUN: A woman passenger was killed and 26 others injured when their double-decker bus crashed while swerving to avoid horses straying on Highway 21 in Muang district early on Tuesday morning.
The accident occurred about 4.30am near the 211 kilometre marker of the highway in Ban Sakae Ngam of tambon Ban Tok.
The bus, operated by Phet Prasert Co, was travelling the Rayong-Lom Sak route.
The 70-year-old driver, Samrit Thep-intorn, told police he veered to avoid some horses that ran suddenly onto the road ahead, lost control and the bus plunged in the roadside ditch.
Many passengers were trapped inside the bus, crying for help, when police from Muang Phetchabun station arrived at the scene.
Rescue workers took 26 injured people to Phetchabun Hospital. They also found Anu Krasee, 69, dead on the second deck of the bus. The native of tambon Tha Phol in Muang district had suffered a severe head injury.
Mr Samrit told police he had about 40 passengers on board from Rayong.
Police said that prior to the bus accident a car hit a horse on the road nearby.
