Passenger van crashes, 5 dead, 8 hurt

[PeteC]

This is horrific and the worst one I've seen in a long time. Go to the link for photos. The death toll is up to 6 now and people burned to death in there as they couldn't get them out. The container truck is in the left slow lane and all that I can surmise is that the van tried a left lane pass and came upon the slow truck unexpectedly. Pete


http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/2 ... s-5-8-hurt

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/nationa ... 73300.html

[Nereus]

This is horrific and the worst one I've seen in a long time. Go to the link for photos. The death toll is up to 6 now and people burned to death in there as they couldn't get them out. The container truck is in the left slow lane and all that I can surmise is that the van tried a left lane pass and came upon the slow truck unexpectedly. Pete


http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/2 ... s-5-8-hurt

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/nationa ... 73300.html

Yes, horrendous, Pete. The truck appears to half on the shoulder of the road, so maybe it was stopped. How the hell did the driver survive? It states the usual "fled the scene" on one of those reports.

[Have a cigar]

Shocking...I think i might re-evaluate the mini-van idea and get the train from BKK to Hua Hin when we visit.

[Takiap]

Shocking...I think i might re-evaluate the mini-van idea and get the train from BKK to Hua Hin when we visit.

I can't believe you even use the minivans - I'd feel safer being driven to Bangkok by a blind person. While not all the minivan drivers are crazy, most are complete and utter twats who have no respect whatsoever for the lives of others. What i can't understand though, is why the companies that own these van allow the drivers to drive the way they do, and yes, there are ways to stop it.

I've used the minivan service about three times, and I vowed I'll never use them again.

[magobligin]

Apparently employers pay the mini-van drivers per journey hence their need for speed so they can complete as many journeys as possible and earn maximum daily pay.

[PeteC]

Yes, horrendous, Pete. The truck appears to half on the shoulder of the road, so maybe it was stopped. How the hell did the driver survive? It states the usual "fled the scene" on one of those reports.

I almost put the "fled the scene" part in my opening post. Reading it again though it could be that the driver of the container truck fled the scene. Not clear to me. If he was parked half in a lane and half on the shoulder I guess he could think that he was at fault. I agree that no way the van driver got out of that from the looks of things. Pete

[Hezze]

Awful stuff! Maybe the dashboard and window were full of small statues and flowers, makings it hard to see?

[Roel]

Clearly the first two pictures were taken before the fire started. Imagine all these injured people trapped inside not aware shortly it will become even worse. What a nightmare.

[Lung Per]

Incredible that nothing is being done about those irresponsible van drivers. Likewise incredible that Thailand allows gas tanks be placed in the front of the van. Most collisions involving vans are front head-on and do result in a blaze. My sympathy to the victims.

[Nereus]

Incredible that nothing is being done about those irresponsible van drivers. Likewise incredible that Thailand allows gas tanks be placed in the front of the van. Most collisions involving vans are front head-on and do result in a blaze. My sympathy to the victims.

Not sure just how they could put a gas tank in the front of a forward control van like that?
Any van that I have looked at that has been converted to "gas" has the tank behind the last row of seats. Where does it say the van had "gas"?

There are rules covering the installation of "gas" tanks, but like most other things, they can be very "flexible", depending on who you are.

Even having a gas tank mounted outside on the roof, would not have made much difference in this case.

[Lung Per]

Incredible that nothing is being done about those irresponsible van drivers. Likewise incredible that Thailand allows gas tanks be placed in the front of the van. Most collisions involving vans are front head-on and do result in a blaze. My sympathy to the victims.

Not sure just how they could put a gas tank in the front of a forward control van like that?
Any van that I have looked at that has been converted to "gas" has the tank behind the last row of seats. Where does it say the van had "gas"?

There are rules covering the installation of "gas" tanks, but like most other things, they can be very "flexible", depending on who you are.

Even having a gas tank mounted outside on the roof, would not have made much difference in this case.

Not gas as in gasoline, rather LPG or whatever its chemical term is (sorry I'm not the expert).
The fact remains, however, that these vans are potential fireballs and with the reckless drivers, accidents waiting to happen.

[Have a cigar]

Shocking...I think i might re-evaluate the mini-van idea and get the train from BKK to Hua Hin when we visit.

I can't believe you even use the minivans - I'd feel safer being driven to Bangkok by a blind person. While not all the minivan drivers are crazy, most are complete and utter twats who have no respect whatsoever for the lives of others. What i can't understand though, is why the companies that own these van allow the drivers to drive the way they do, and yes, there are ways to stop it.

I've used the minivan service about three times, and I vowed I'll never use them again.

The plan was to book a minivan type vehicle (with baby seat) from hua hin limousine .com to pick us up at the BKK airport. The wife would let the driver know we expected him to drive safely within the speed limits, and he would be tipped accordingly.

[dtaai-maai]

No reason to change that plan - the dangerous minibuses are the ones that run regularly from Victoria Monument all over Thailand. These are the drivers with the speed incentive.

[Have a cigar]

Ok, good to know

Cheers

[dtaai-maai]

I've just had this awful image of you reading my post, booking your ride and then, God forbid, having an accident.
Let me make it quite clear that I have never used the company you are referring to, and let me also be very specific in my advice.
All forms of travel, road and rail certainly, in Thailand attract more risks than in more developed countries.
My Thai wife will not travel by 'public' minibus or by the 'intercity' VIP-style bus.
If you have found a private minibus company you trust with a driver you trust (it is after all the driver that matters), or in our case (for airport runs, etc.) a private taxi and driver, stick with them.
Ask for recommendations and use them.
Good luck and happy travelling.