Northern Thailand
Tour Bus Driver Charged for Reckless Driving after Chiang Mai Crash
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CHIANG MAI – A tour bus driver was charged by Phuping Rachaniwes police station in Chiang Mai for reckless driving after his bus developed brake failure and crashed into two cars before plunging into a roadside ditch at the foot of Wat Phra That Doi Suthep in Chiang Mai on Monday.
Seven Chinese tourists were injured, including a 2- month pregnant tourist, Thai PBS Reported
The bus driver Chavalit Tola, 38, said he drove 32 Chinese tourists to Doi Suthep and found nothing usual with the braking system.
But on the return trip after all tourists were on the bus, he drove off just 10 metres and felt the brake didn’t work.
He tried to control the bus which was running downhill and gaining speed.
He couldn’t control the bus as it rammed at rear of another bus and other cars before crashing into stalls and falling into the ditch at the foot of the hill.
All the injured were later taken by police and rescue workers to Maharaj Chiang Mai hospital for first-aid treatment.
The bus belonged to Siam IT Tour.
One rescue worker said there were two similar accidents in the past two years from brake failures.
The latest accident on December 5 claimed lives of two tourists at the parking area of Phuping palace.