Family Holds Funeral Rites for Rose, Who Died in Train-Bus Collision, at Her Hometown in Ubon Ratchathani Province
A 25-year-old Kasetsart University graduate died in a train-bus collision on May 16; her family held funeral rites in Ubon Ratchathani and called for improved safety measures at railroad crossings.
On May 20, 2569, at Wat Suan Sawang temple in Phibul Mangsahan District, Ubon Ratchathani Province, funeral rites were held for Rose (Ms. Vipharak Phuree), age 25, a former student of the Faculty of Humanities at Kasetsart University, who died in a train-bus collision on May 16. Various government agencies sent wreaths and neighbors helped organize the funeral in a somber atmosphere. The three-day merit-making ceremony will conclude with a cremation on May 23, with Governor Nrong Thephsena and local officials presiding over the chanting of funeral rites.
The victim's mother, Ms. Sathinee Vathi, expressed her desire for improved safety measures for bus passengers, emphasizing that travelers entrust their lives to drivers who must safely deliver them to their destinations. She questioned why buses would drive across railroad tracks despite knowing the danger exists there, noting there were no warning signs before the collision, preventing anyone from reacting in time.
The victim's aunt, Ms. Viphaphorn Phuree, recounted that the young woman used various forms of transportation for work, including motorcycles, buses, and taxis depending on her schedule. The family is certain she was on the bus involved in the accident because she had paid her fare through a mobile app and posted a story confirming she had boarded. The aunt poignantly stated: "What we ask for now is just one minute of carefulness from someone. One minute of negligence destroyed 10-20 years of life for my niece and many others. Eight lives lost for just one minute—if only someone had spared just one minute, eight lives would not have been lost."