CHAI NAT -- One passenger was killed, four remained unaccounted for and 19 others were confirmed injured when a Chiang Mai-bound tour bus overturned in heavy rain in Muang district of this Central province on Sunday night.
The bus was operated by Pornpiriya Tour Company.
The driver, Parinya Khampa, 48, told police investigators that bus had 24 passengers and was heading for Chiang Mai from Bangkok when the accident occurred about 10.30pm near kilometre marker 132 on Highway 32 in tambon Sua Hok.
The driver said he lost control in heavy rain, claiming the brakes malfunctioned. The bus skidded off the road, hit a tree and overturned, ending up partly submerged in a ditch.
Rescue workers helped 19 passengers out of the wreckage, 10 women and nine men. Two of them, a man and a woman, were European.
All were admitted to either Chai Nat, Sappaya or Manorom hospitals.
A woman aged 35-40 year was killed. She was not identified.
It was believed four other passengers were still trapped inside the bus and their fate was unknown.