NAN: Eight people were hurt, one seriously, when a tour bus carrying cyclists to Nan skidded into a mountain slope at a curve in Muang district on Saturday.
The accident occurred on the Nan-Ban Luang-Bang Song Khaew Road in tambon Sanian late Saturday morning, said Charasphan Arunwong, head of the provincial disaster prevention and mitigation office.
The bus, with Bangkok licence plates, was found lying on its side when police and rescue workers arrived at the scene.
Driver Yutthapong Yangklang, 32, was badly hurt. Seven passengers sustained minor injuries. All were given first aid before being taken to Nan Hospital.
A police investigation found that the tour bus, carrying 32 cyclists from Samut Prakan to Doi Phukha in Pua district, was using GPS to navigate.
However, the system guided the bus to Ban Luang district. The driver turned around to head for Muang district, which would lead him to Pua district. While travelling alongside a mountainous slope, the bus suddenly developed brake failure at a sharp curve. The driver swerved right to stop the bus, which hit the slope.
Police have advised visitors wanting to travel to Nan to ask for directions from local residents or consult relevant agencies about routes if they are unfamiliar with the area.