Eight killed, 30 injured in Bangkok railway collision
Thai police have charged a train driver after a deadly collision between a freight train and a public bus in Bangkok claimed eight lives.
Authorities said the driver tested positive for illegal drugs following the crash, which happened on Saturday afternoon at a busy railway crossing in the Thai capital.
The collision left the bus engulfed in flames and injured 30 people.
Police file reckless driving charges
Police charged the train driver and a railway-crossing guard with negligence causing death and injury.
Chief of the local police station, Urumporn Koondejsumrit, confirmed the charges on Monday.
He said both suspects denied wrongdoing during questioning.
Urumporn also disclosed that an initial urine test detected illegal substances in the driver’s system. However, he did not identify the drug involved.
Authorities have ordered additional tests for the second driver and a railway technician who were aboard the train.
Investigators review crossing footage
Videos shared online showed the train approaching the crossing before crashing into the bus, which had become trapped in traffic on the tracks.
Bangkok police chief Siam Boonsom said traffic congestion regularly occurs at the crossing.
He noted that officials had never recorded a similar accident at the location.
Investigators are now reviewing surveillance footage to determine whether the crossing guard acted negligently.
“We saw the official waving a red flag, which signalled danger, but the train did not stop or slow down,” Siam said.
Authorities probe train speed and braking system
Police have also launched an investigation into the train’s speed and braking distance before the collision.
Siam said footage from previous days showed vehicles stopping on the tracks while railway officials used red flags to alert approaching trains.
Emergency services confirmed that eight people died in the crash.
Authorities also said 17 injured victims remained in hospital as of Sunday evening.
Police earlier reported 35 injuries but later revised the figure to 30.
