NAKHON RATCHASIMA - Three passengers were killed and 18 others injured, five seriously, when a speeding interprovincial bus travelling from Bangkok to Roi Et rear-ended a truck in Non Sung district of this northeastern province in the early hours of Friday.
It was earlier reported four people were killed and 19 injured, three seriously.
The crash occurred at kilometre makers 168-169 on Mittraparb Road near a truck weighbridge at Ban Thong Lang village in tambon Tanod, said Pol Lt Col Apinan Pluemmarang, a duty officer at Nong Sung police station. It was reported around 2.20am on Friday.
The air-conditioned passenger bus, operated by Sahaphan Roi Et Tour Co, rammed into the rear of a 18-wheel truck loaded with asphalt.
The impact of the crash killed three passengers, all men, instantly and injured 18 other passengers. Of the injured, five were badly hurt. Rescue workers rushed the injured to Nong Sung and Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima hospitals. The crash caused a traffic jam several kilometres long.
Passengers told police the bus was travelling at high speed. Shortly before the crash, they heard the bus driver shouting that the brakes had failed. The driver, later named as Pornsathit Wongthalae, 40, fled the scene immediately after the fatal crash.
Truck driver Charoonkiart Thanjai, 35, said he was slowing down as he was about to turn off the road and enter the weighbridge when the bus ran into his truck.
Police were searching for the bus driver.