14 people die in Thai bus tragedy that breaks vehicle in half

Fourteen people in Thailand died when a two-level bus went off the road and hit a tree.

Pictures on the internet show the bus tilted over and its front broken in half, with some parts of the tree stuck in it.

Thirty-two people got hurt in a crash in Prachuap Khiri Khan, a province by the ocean in the south of the country.

Thailand has a lot of car crashes, which cause thousands of deaths each year.

Some people think that this is because the roads in the country are not very safe.

In 2022, 15,000 people died in car accidents in Thailand, according to the Road Accidents Data Centre. In the UK, where there are slightly fewer people, the number is 1,700.

In 2021, almost one out of every three deaths in the country was because of traffic accidents, according to the World Health Organization.

The reason for the crash on Monday night is not known for sure, but the police think the driver might not have gotten enough sleep. AFP told

He was really hurt but he lived. Officials are also testing how much alcohol is in his blood, the news agency reported.

The police are still checking to make sure they know who died in the crash.

Prachuap Khiri Khan is a favorite spot for tourists because of its nice beaches, caves, and walking paths.

Rescuers worked for a long time to help the dead and injured people out of the bus, according to the Sawang Prachuap Dhammasathan Foundation.

Photos on the foundation’s Facebook page showed a lot of people trying to remove the tree that was on top of the bus. Someone broke the car windows with a hammer.

In the past three years, fewer people have died in road accidents. However, Thailand is still one of the top 10 worst countries for road safety.

However, very few people are asking for safety improvements, and the problem hardly ever comes up during elections.

Many people think this is because most of the people who die – more than 70% – are riding motorbikes, and they are usually some of the poorest people in society. Also, most accidents happen on country roads.

Wearing helmets is often not enforced in Thailand, but it is enforced in Vietnam and Indonesia. Alcohol often causes accidents.

The government in Thailand tends to be influenced by the campaigns supported by rich city residents.

The roads in Thailand are in good condition for driving fast, but they are often not well-lit or marked, which can make accidents more likely.

Sometimes, people who speed don’t get punished. The fines are not very high and are sometimes not even paid.

It doesn’t happen very often that Thai drivers lose their driving privileges.