Six indicted over Bangkok fatal train-bus collision in May

Public prosecutors have decided to indict six people in connection with a collision involving a train and a public bus at the Asoke-Din Daeng railway crossing in Bangkok on May 16, which left eight people dead and 30 others injured.

The six defendants include the train driver, a railway crossing gate operator, the bus driver, a pickup truck driver and two motorcyclists. All face charges of negligence causing deaths and injuries.

The bus driver, pickup truck driver and two motorcyclists also face charges of obstructing rail transport, while the train driver faces an additional charge of drug use after a subsequent laboratory test found illegal narcotics in his system.

The accident occurred at about 3.40pm when State Railway of Thailand freight train 2126, travelling from Laem Chabang to Bang Sue Junction, collided with public bus 206 at the level crossing.

The bus was stopped across the railway tracks while waiting at a red traffic light. With the bus blocking the crossing, the railway barrier could not be lowered, and the heavily laden freight train was unable to stop in time before striking the bus.

The collision caused the bus to burst into flames, with the fire spreading to nearby vehicles. Five cars and five motorcycles were also damaged. The final reported toll was eight dead and 30 injured, including the bus driver.

A subsequent examination of the train's data recorder found that the driver had applied the brakes about 100 metres before the collision. The finding is an important piece of evidence in determining whether he could have avoided the crash.