Bangkok train-bus crash kills 8; driver was drugged, unlicensed
Drug-positive, unlicensed driver hit bus; barrier was raised too late.
Bangkok is reeling from yet another preventable tragedy after a goods train slammed into a city bus at the Asok-Dindaeng intersection on Saturday afternoon, killing eight people. The train driver, Sayomporn Sonkul, later tested positive for drugs and had no valid operator’s licence from the Department of Rail Transport. Authorities said he ignored a red flag from a trackside guard, who also appeared to lower the level-crossing barrier too slowly, leaving the orange city bus stranded on the tracks.
The collision triggered a massive fireball when the train struck the bus, igniting its gas canisters and engulfing nearby cars and a motorbike that had pressed against the crossing. The blaze was so intense that remains of several victims are still awaiting full forensic identification. CCTV footage captured the crash. The driver was quickly charged with negligence, as officials attributed the incident to human error. The city now asks when Bangkok will finally fix its systemic safety failures.
- Eight people died when a goods train hit a city bus at a Bangkok level crossing.
- The train driver tested positive for drugs and had no valid operator's licence.
- The level-crossing barrier was lowered too late, allowing the bus to become stranded.
Why It Matters
Another avoidable tragedy highlights systemic failures in Bangkok's rail safety and traffic enforcement.