Bangkok: Police investigating a fatal collision between a train and a passenger bus said the train driver had over three years of experience on the route and CCTV footage confirmed that both crew members were inside the control cabin leading up to the impact. The crash occurred at the Asoke-Dindaeng intersection in Bangkok on May 16, killing eight people and injuring more than 30 others.
According to Thai News Agency, the mechanic on board the train informed investigators that he spotted the bus obstructing the tracks from about 300 meters away and immediately alerted the driver. In response, the driver stood up to apply the handbrake while the mechanic activated the emergency brake at a distance of 100 meters. Unfortunately, the braking distance was insufficient to stop the train.
The mechanic further stated that the driver left behind his communication radio, a critical piece of equipment, at the Laem Chabang origin station. He also mentioned that during the journey, the driver appeared unresponsive at times, leading him to estimate the driver's operational capacity at roughly 60 percent.
Addressing public speculation that the driver was missing from the cabin during the crash, police clarified that CCTV footage from multiple angles verified both men were seated. The driver was likely bending down to pull the brake lever, making him temporarily invisible from certain viewpoints. Following the impact, the mechanic and another railway employee jumped from the locomotive, while the driver remained on board until bystanders assisted him.
Meanwhile, families of the victims have begun reclaiming bodies from authorities. Among the deceased was a 36-year-old Myanmar national, whose family retrieved her body for funeral rites at a temple in Bangkok. Relatives of another victim held a Buddhist prayer ritual at the crash site on Wednesday to invite his spirit to rest. Forensic officials stated that one body remains unclaimed for DNA testing, while two others are still undergoing identification processes.