Thailand: Bangkok rail crossing collision kills at least 8

A freight train struck a public bus stopped on railway tracks at a red light in downtown Bangkok near Airport Rail Link’s Makkasan Station. Preliminary reports indicated the bus could not move and crossing barriers did not close, leaving the tracks unprotected. The train was unable to stop in time and hit the bus, killing at least eight people, all on the bus, while injuring 32 others. The collision triggered a fire that quickly engulfed the bus. Videos showed the train smashing into the bus and dragging nearby cars and motorcycles along the tracks. Investigators conducted detailed inspections, and Thailand’s prime minister ordered an investigation. Road accidents in Thailand are common, with speeding, drunk driving, and weak enforcement contributing factors.

"Preliminary reports showed the public bus had been stopped on the railway tracks at a red light before the crash, preventing crossing barriers from closing, Deputy Transport Minister Siripong Angkasakulkiat told reporters. The heavy freight train was unable to stop in time to avoid colliding with the bus, he added. "All eight dead were on the bus," Siripong said, adding that it was still unclear how many people were on board."

"The accident occurred near the Airport Rail Link's Makkasan Station in Bangkok's Ratchathewi district on Saturday afternoon. Videos shared on social media show the train smashing into the orange bus, which was set on fire within minutes, as it dragged several other nearby cars and motorcycles along the tracks. "The bus was stuck at a red light, so it couldn't move. Cars were also blocked and unable to move forward," Wanthong Kokpho, a motorcycle taxi driver who witnessed the crash, told Reuters."

""The fire broke out immediately ... If this had been a normal working day, the damage would have been much worse," he added. Investigators were carrying out a detailed inspection of the site of the collision. Thailand's Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has ordered an investigation into the incident, according to a statement from his office."

"Thailand's roads regularly top lists of the world's deadliest, with speeding, drunk driving and weak law enforcement of safety standards all contributing factors. In January, a construction crane fell on a passenger train in Thailand's northeast, killing 32 people a"

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