Bus Crash Injures 15 Passengers In Chaiyaphum
A double-decker bus crashed into a parked truck on a Bangkok highway early Tuesday, injuring 15 passengers; the bus driver said he failed to notice the stationary vehicle in time.
CHAIYAPHUM — Fifteen passengers were injured when a double-decker coach crashed into the rear of a parked 18-wheel lorry on the roadside on Tuesday, June 30, 2026. The bus driver said he failed to notice the stationary vehicle in time and denied he had fallen asleep.
The collision occurred around 1:00 a.m. on Highway 201 (Chaiyaphum–Bangkok Highway) heading toward Bangkok, directly in front of a local company, about 3.5 kilometers from Chaiyaphum city. Police Lieutenant Colonel Chaiporn Promsena at Mueang Chaiyaphum Police Station coordinated the response with emergency medical teams and rescue workers from the Sawang Khunatham Chaiyaphum Foundation and Chaiyaphum Hospital.
Authorities found the coach, which was traveling from Bangkok to Si Chiang Mai district in Nong Bua Lamphu province, with a completely crushed front end and shattered windshield. The truck, registered in Ang Thong province and carrying steel bars from Lopburi, had been parked on the shoulder near a U-turn. Rescue workers freed trapped passengers and transported 15 injured people to the hospital, most with injuries to their arms, legs, knees, and waists. Other passengers refused medical treatment and waited for a replacement vehicle.
A 65-year-old passenger said the coach left Bangkok's Mo Chit Bus Terminal at 8:30 p.m. Monday without rest stops or driver changes. Most passengers were asleep when the collision occurred, and he believed the coach had drifted into the left lane. The 48-year-old driver said he was carrying 35 passengers and failed to see the parked lorry, though he denied falling asleep. The 33-year-old truck driver said he had parked for about 30 minutes before hearing a loud impact and discovering the coach had hit his trailer.
After examining the scene and transporting the injured, officers removed both vehicles from the road to prevent secondary accidents. Investigators plan to question both drivers further to determine the exact cause before taking legal action.
