One killed, 29 injured as Khon Kaen bus overturns

A rescuer checks more injured passengers after their bus overturned in Muang district in Khon Kaen province on Sunday. (Photo by Chakkrapan Natanri)

KHON KAEN: One passenger was killed and 29 others injured when a bus overturned in Muang district of this northeastern province on Sunday.

Sarawut Panchara, 51, the driver, told Khon Kaen police that the air-conditioned bus was heading for Roi-et province from Udon Thani when the accident occurred at about 11am at Ban Nong Saeng village in tambon Phra Lap on the Khon Kaen-Kalasin road.

The driver said the bus encountered heavy rain after leaving the Khon Kaen bus terminal. While passing through Ban Nong Saeng he braked on the slippery road, causing the bus to skid off the road and flip over, coming to rest on one side, he said while bleeding from a deep cut on the face and the right ear.

One passenger, who was yet to be identified, died at the scene. Twenty-eight other passengers and the driver were injured. Of the 29 wounded, 15 were admitted to Khon Kaen Hospital and 14 to Srinakarin Hospital.

Pol Col Chamlong Suwalak, the Muang district police chief, said officers would gather information from witnesses to establish the exact cause of the accident.