Bangkok: Siripong confirmed that someone must be at fault in the train-bus collision. He pointed out that if the level crossing barrier hadn't dropped, the train wouldn't have been able to pass. He ordered the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) to inspect the black box and examine the train driver's behavior.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Siripong Angkasakulkiat, Deputy Minister of Transport, revealed while visiting the scene of the freight train collision with a Route 206 bus at Makkasan intersection that the latest reports indicate 8 fatalities. Forensic police are currently identifying the victims. There are 32 injured, distributed among various hospitals. The Department of Land Transport has been instructed to coordinate the identification of the injured. Initially, it is known that two sustained serious injuries, while the rest suffered minor to moderate injuries.
All eight fatalities were on the bus, and it needs to be verified whether there are any more. The exact number of people on the bus cannot yet be confirmed because the driver died, and some of the injured were taken to hospitals by rescue workers and by Good Samaritans. We must wait for further reports from the BMTA (Bangkok Mass Transit Authority).
Mr. Siripong explained the cause of the accident, stating that normally, the level crossing barrier should be lowered. If it doesn't, the train cannot pass. However, in this case, the barrier failed to lower, yet the train was unable to brake in time. He explained that the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) needs to examine the black box to determine the driver's behavior, including speed and conduct. He added that the SRT has been instructed to provide the police with all relevant data, including CCTV footage from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and cameras inside the level crossing control unit. "There must be someone at fault in this case, but we want the investigation to be based on scientific evidence rather than subjective feelings. The Ministry of Transport will take full action," Mr. Siripong stated.
Mr. Siripong also addressed compensation for the deceased, stating that the BMTA (Bangkok Mass Transit Authority) has insurance coverage exceeding 1 million baht per person and that all parties must cooperate to provide the maximum possible compensation. However, he emphasized that no amount of compensation can adequately protect human life.