Brother devastated after watching video of sister's death in train-bus collision
A 55-year-old man from Sisaket identified his sister as a victim of the May 16 train-bus collision at Makkasan railway crossing in Bangkok, devastating him after he watched video footage of the fatal crash.
On May 17, 2025, Sommai (surname withheld), 55, the brother of Ms. Thiam (surname withheld), 57, traveled to the Police Hospital's forensic medicine department from Sisaket Province to identify his sister, one of the victims of the freight train collision with air-conditioned bus Route 206 at the Makkasan railway crossing on Asoke-Din Daeng Road.
Sommai spoke in a weak, trembling voice, saying he could barely cope. "Everything happened so fast," he said. His sister had lived in Bangkok for over 40 years working as a homemaker. On May 16, after finishing work near Asoke, she boarded the bus to return to her rented home in On Nut. Sommai initially didn't know she was on the bus, but later realized when he saw someone matching her description in video footage. He tried calling her multiple times but couldn't reach her, eventually confirming his worst fears.
"Watching the video of the accident is heartbreaking. I never imagined she would die this way," Sommai said. "Regarding carelessness, I don't want to blame anyone specifically because everyone shares some responsibility. If people had been more careful, this tragedy might have been prevented."
Sommai called on the government to improve public safety measures. "My sister was a devout person who loved doing good deeds. She traveled to temples regularly, no matter how near or far. Why did she have to meet such an end? I'm deeply sorry," he said.
Sommai explained that his sister was the last person their youngest brother spoke to before the family scattered. Of six siblings, Sommai is the fifth and his deceased sister was the third. The family is currently working to claim her body for funeral rites at their hometown of Prang Ku District in Sisaket Province.
