NARATHIWAT: Five female teachers returning from an Islamic study tour in Malaysia were killed and eight others, including the driver, wre injured when their van hit a roadside tree in Bacho district of Narathiwat early Wednesday.
The crash occurred on Phetkasem Road in tambon Luborsawor, said Pol Capt Paiboon Kuedam, duty investigation chief at Bacho police station, who was alerted around 4am.
A rescue team, police officers, soldiers and local officials arriving at the scene found 13 dead and injured people in the wreckage of a passenger van. Most of the passengers were teachers at Darussalam School in Rangae district of this southern province.
Four women were pronounced dead at the scene. Nine others, including the driver and eight women, were injured. All were rushed to two nearby hospitals. One of those injured was later pronounced dead at Naradhiwas Rajanagarindra Hospital, bringing the number of fatalities to five.
Rescue workers, soldiers and police officers try to extract injured and dead passengers from a wrecked van following a crash in Narathiwat early Wednesday. (Photo by Waedao Harai)
The deceased were identified as Madeeha Hayaruesa, 30; Maleemah Muyiddeen, 41; Kameela Nija, 27; Suhana Sama-ae, 30; and Anatee Manor, 30.
The eight injured were Nadia Yala, 31; Ameena Niteemung, 31; driver Wisut Angsanam, 36; Ameeda Da-oh, 40; Sakeeya Maseng, 46; Rodeeya Wachae, 27; Supaporn Haeha, 40, and Sareephan Jaetae, 21.
Police found no evidence that the van's brakes were applied. The investigation showed that the van driver was hired to pick up a group of female Muslim teachers returning from a study trip in Malaysia at Sadao checkpoint in Hat Yai district of Songkhla.
On the way back to Narathiwat province, the van rammed into a roadside tree. resulting in the deaths and injuries. Police believed the driver might have dozed off at the wheel.