PATTAYA, Thailand – A harrowing crash at the Pong Toll Plaza in Pattaya on the evening of January 2 left 33 individuals injured, including 30 Russian tourists and three others traveling in a Toyota Fortuner. The incident occurred at approximately 6:22 PM, when a Kim Ho Tour bus collided with a toll booth, a barrier, and the vehicle, prompting an extensive emergency response.
The Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Pattaya Rescue Unit worked swiftly alongside highway and tourist police to evacuate passengers and secure the area. The scene was fraught with danger as leaking fuel from the bus heightened concerns of a potential fire or explosion.
Preliminary reports revealed six individuals sustained serious injuries, while 27 others suffered minor wounds. First aid was administered at the site before the injured were transported to nearby hospitals for further care.
According to Ms. Addy Yoosamran, a highway security officer, the Toyota Fortuner had slowed to pass through the toll booth when the speeding tour bus, attempting to switch lanes abruptly, lost control. Security footage confirmed the bus veered from a closed toll gate to an open one at high speed, leading to the devastating collision.
The bus driver, identified as 74-year-old Sayan Kumpitak, was transporting 42 passengers from Koh Samet in Rayong Province to Pattaya. Early investigations suggest a potential brake failure as a contributing factor to the crash.
Police Lieutenant Nattapol Ritthirong of the Highway Police Division 1 stated that CCTV evidence is under review, and further questioning of the driver will be conducted to determine the exact cause of the incident.
Authorities have assured the public that all necessary measures are being taken to assist the injured and investigate the circumstances surrounding this tragic event.