Chiangmai-Udon Bus Overturns, 6 dead

Post by **parrot** » April 22, 2012, 9:28 pm

http://manager.co.th/Local/ViewNews.asp ... 0000049670

ON 21 April, a bus bound from Chiangmai to Udon crashed along the Lampang-Denchai, killing 6 and injuring 27. The bus left the Lampang bus terminal at 9 P.M., enroute to Udon. The bus apparently crashed through road barriers and overturned while descending a mountain pass. Some of the dead were found decapitated. The bus was operated by the Jakrapong Tour Company (จักรพงษ์ทัวร์ ).

Post by **Ricohoc** » April 22, 2012, 9:40 pm

Nothing I can say can comfort the loss of those family members or the help the injuries of those who survived.

I have vowed long ago never to take a bus anywhere out of town.

I've seen these guys run red lights from a hundred yards away blowing their horns and flashing lights, passing autos on double-lined parts of the highway and even in the center of downtown areas with oncoming traffic. I've never seen such neglect when it comes to safety.

Frightening.

Post by **bigsnake** » April 23, 2012, 9:29 am

WOW!! SAD RIP!! Was it driver Error? For sure all the companies need better quality of drivers, better monitoring of their drivers and above better safety check of the buses.

Post by **Khun Paul** » April 24, 2012, 6:33 am

While my thoughts go to the relatives and those who passed away, one cannot help thinking we have been here before.
it would be interesting to see what the police make of this accident which will probable be bad brakes or driver error.
S sad story which could I suspect have been prevented.
So sad RIP to the victims and hopefully swift recovery to the injured.

Post by **nkstan** » April 24, 2012, 12:08 pm

In the last year I have driven that route and back 3 times.It is very dangerous going through the mountains in that area because their is major construction.Lots of backed up traffic with antsy drivers trying to get around very slow trucks.Almost had an accident myself as I followed a pickup passing a big slow truck rig through the construction,ran out of road as the distance was shorter than I thought,lot of dust.

That said ,I agree with those who give the buses a pass as I do.My daughter left for Bangkok for a visit, then to Chiang Mai on May1rst,then back to Bangkok and eventually home on the 9th.She was going to take a bus.I nixed it and bought her train tickets for all 4 trips at about twice the cost,but 10 times more feelings of safety!

Post by **douglas** » April 24, 2012, 1:24 pm

Hi,
I go down to Bangkok every year by bus, Will not take my car there, i'm chicken. Last year there was the floods, so i took a plane. Every time i have travelled by bus, i go on the Udon Air Bus. The fare costs a bit more, last time 405B single. The buses i travelled in were in very good condition, and the food, be it Thai, was good also. Massage and reclining seats and A/C and clean toilets. I also have never had any complaints about the driving on all the trips i have taken with U.A.
I travelled by train, in LOS once, never again. Worst journey i have ever taken, and i used to travel all over the world in my job.The best train journey i have taken, is the garden route in S.Africa.

Post by **meghan** » April 24, 2012, 4:06 pm

I go to Chiangmai on a regular basis and and I know that there are two bus companies that ply the Chiangmai-Udonthani route. At first I didn't really mind which company I used, but with regular commuting, I have observed that one company, Suksa Tour, is better managed. However, the most important factor that made me decide to use this company whenever possible was due to the near-collision incident of the bus I was in, which was a Chakkraphong Tour Bus (same bus company involved in the April 21 accident).

Post by **meghan** » May 18, 2012, 8:40 pm

Just want to share these articles regarding the dangers of double-decker buses especially on winding and hilly roads. This also comes to mind the accident in Cameron Highlands in December 2010 involving a double-decker bus loaded with Thai tourists where 28 people died and 9 critically injured.

http://www.google.co.th/url?sa=t&rct=j& ... 3O_plrk3aw

http://www.google.co.th/url?sa=t&rct=j& ... gSZyhH9nIA

Post by **JMT42** » January 21, 2013, 11:36 am

Most busses are way underpowered having the smallest available engine. When the drivers finally get them up to a good speed they hate to slow down also in mountain areas the motor is not big enough to hold back the load ,when you gear down so they ride the brakes ,a recipe for disaster.

Post by **martynsnowman** » January 21, 2013, 4:14 pm

i thought this was a new crash but no its from last may , jtm42 please keep up with the current posts
this is a history lesson from way beond the past .....