ANG THONG -- A bus with 44 officials of the cooperatives office of Phatthalung province on board overturned in Muang district early on Sunday, killing four and injuring 18, police said.
Pol Lt Chakri Phan-et, a duty officer at Muang district police station, said the accident occurred at about 2.30am at Moo 4 village in tambon Ban Ree on the Asia Highway.
Chatchawal Klang, 41, the driver, told police that the bus had taken 44 employees of the cooperatives office of Phatthalung for a tour of the Phu Chi Fa National Park in Chiang Rai.
On the return trip, while the bus was heading for Bangkok, one of the front tyres burst, causing it to overturn.
Four passengers were killed. Three of them, Pattarin Chanphu, Charan Duangkaew and Nanchana Samutsenito, were killed in the bus while Tiwakorn Kerdpol, 46, was seriously injured and died later in hospital.
Eighteen passengers were injured. They were admitted to Ang Thong Hospital.