CHACHOENGSAO: Almost 30 passengers on a public bus escaped injury after their driver passed out at the wheel and the bus overturned on Saturday afternoon. The driver later died.
Police and rescue workers who rushed to the scene found the local bus in the ditch that divides Highway 304 in tambon Tha Thonglan. Driver Surin Tidprom, 65, was found passed out at the wheel. His wife Urai Tidprom, who is the fare collector, and the passengers were trying to bring him out of the bus.
The rescue team administered CPR as the driver had stopped breathing. He was rushed to Bang Khla hospital where he was later pronounced dead.
The 30 passengers who were in the bus were shaken up but all were safe.
Somchit Ekchantree, 53, was on the bus with three grandchildren and was on her way home after attending a school function involving one of them. She said she heard the driver complain of a stomachache and saw that he was trying to maintain control and stop the bus when he passed out.
All of the passengers were in shock as the bus slowly turned on its side, but no one was injured.
Ms Urai said her husband was in good health and did not have any congenital diseases. She said the stomachache appeared to have happened suddenly without prior symptoms and he passed out.
From her seat beside him she tried unsuccessfully to steer the bus but her husband had slumped onto the steering wheel, she said.