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Passenger Van Crashes in Northern Thailand Killing Driver, Injuring 13 Danish Tourists
A passenger van went off a hillside road and crashed into a ravine in Mae Hong Son province in northern Thailand on Thursday night, killing the driver and injuring 13 teenage Danish passengers, three of whom were injured badly.
According to Mae Hong Son tourist police inspector Pol Lt Col Suwit Boonyaphen, the van carrying 10 Danish women and three Danish men diverted from Highway 1095 at kilometre makers 82-83 between Mae Ya and Mae Ping checkpoints in tambon Mae Hee at 9.45pm.
Driver Baramee Panyajachaiya, 50, died in the crash, which injured 13 people, three of whom required surgery. All went to Chiang Mai Ram and Pai hospitals.
According to preliminary inquiry, the vehicle left Chiang Mai for Pai district at 6:30pm on Thursday. The 19–25-year-old visitors planned to attend the Pai Full Moon Party at a restaurant.
The motorist lost control at a curve and drove down a deep ravine, likely unfamiliar with the terrain. The driver died from severe injuries.
According to the Pai Samakkhi Karnkusol rescue foundation on Facebook, the incident occurred about 8.25pm Thursday. It injured 14 people—13 Danish passengers and one Thai driver. The wreckage confined five people, including the driver. Later, the driver died.
Many international tourists attend Pai events, causing transport companies to boost van frequencies.
Last November 10, a passenger van slammed a mountain slope on the approach to the popular tourist venue, killing two foreign tourists and injuring dozens more.
Passenger van accidents in Thailand have been on the rise in recent years. Factors such as reckless driving, poor vehicle maintenance, and overcrowding contribute to the high number of incidents.
Authorities have implemented stricter regulations and increased enforcement to address this growing issue. Travelers are advised to exercise caution when using vans as a mode of transportation in Thailand to ensure their safety on the road.
Thai roads kill 12,000 people annually. Road hazards, in addition to reckless driving, are a significant cause of fatality.
Issues include unclear signs and lighting, broken roads, and inadequate Y-junctions, long criticised. The Thai Road Safety Operation Centre (RSOC) hopes to reduce casualties with a new strategy.
Thailand had 32.7 road deaths/100,000 in 2018, compared to 2.6 in Sweden, one of the world’s safest countries for road travel. The new RSOC system aims to lower Thailand’s horrendous road death rate to 12/100,000 by 2027.
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