PHITSANULOK – A serious accident occurred when a school bus from the National Sports University Si Sa Ket Campus collided with an oil truck at Pa Sak intersection in Bang Rakam, Phitsanulok. One person died at the scene, and ten others were injured.
On Friday at around 8.00 pm, rescue workers from the Prasat Boonsathan Foundation reported a crash involving a school bus carrying athletes and an oil tanker. The incident happened at Pa Sak intersection under the jurisdiction of Nikhom Police Station, Bang Rakam District, Phitsanulok.
Initial reports confirm that ten people were hurt. A 19-year-old athlete lost his life at the scene. Rescue teams from Phitsanulok and nearby subdistrict administration organizations quickly arrived. They took the injured to Bang Rakam Hospital for urgent treatment.
According to police, the minibus from National Sports University Si Sa Ket Campus was taking its athletes to a competition in Sukhothai. The driver, unfamiliar with the route, relied on GPS navigation.
The crash took place at the Pa Sak junction in Nikhom, Bang Rakam, when both vehicles arrived at the intersection.
The Thailand National Sports University (TNSU) Si Sa Ket Campus is one of the multiple campuses of TNSU, a public university in Thailand focused on sports education, physical education, and related fields.
School Bus Crashed in Thailand
Thailand consistently ranks among the most dangerous places to drive. The World Health Organization ranks the country 9th out of 175 for traffic deaths, with 18,218 people losing their lives in 2021 (25.4 per 100,000 people). Every year, around 20,000 lives are lost and a million people are hurt in traffic crashes, costing Thailand about 3% of its GDP.
School bus crashes involving students have made this issue impossible to ignore. In October 2024, a deadly bus fire outside Bangkok killed 20 students and three teachers.
The bus, around 50 years old and fitted with extra compressed natural gas (CNG) tanks not allowed by law, caught fire after a tyre burst led to a crash. Passengers were trapped since the emergency exit was jammed. This tragedy brought attention to ongoing problems like poor vehicle upkeep and weak safety rules.
The WHO points to unsafe vehicles, risky driving, and spotty law enforcement as the main reasons for Thailand’s high road fatality rate. Many buses, like the one in the 2024 fire, do not follow current safety rules. Of the 10,000 buses in use, only 5% meet 2022 fire standards. Illegal changes, such as extra gas tanks, raise the danger.
The 2024 school bus accident was even called a “bomb on wheels.” Driver mistakes matter too, such as falling asleep or driving too fast. In February 2025, a bus crashed in Prachinburi, killing 18 people when the driver lost control. Environmental issues, such as roads with poor lighting and faulty bus parts, cause about 43% of crashes.
Thailand’s efforts to improve road safety through its fifth National Road Safety Master Plan have not led to big improvements. After the October 2024 tragedy, new rules required CNG buses to pass inspections, and safety committees were set up. But these steps are not always followed, and public road safety campaigns often fall flat.
The school bus fire sparked calls to ban school trips, which shows how serious the problem is. Many say it is time to bring in safer standards for all vehicles, tougher rules, and better public education to help prevent more loss of life on Thai roads.
