MAJOR TRAIN ACCIDENT

[Braveheart]

extracted from The Nation

 

Hua Hin, Prachuap Khirikhan - Three train workers were killed and 73 other people were injured when a passenger train rammed into another in this seaside town early Sunday morning.

 

The State Railway Authority said it has yet to investigate to find out whether the accident at the Nong Kae staton in Hua Hin district was caused by the system or human error.

 

Police and railway officials said the Bangkok-Yala train was being parked at the station to wait for the Langsuan-Thonburi train to pass through the station first, but the incoming train did not enter the alternative track. Instead, it rammed into the Bangkok-Yala train.

 

The impact reduced the engine of the Bangkok-Yala train into rubble, pushed it back to crash into the first passenger carriage. Three passenger carriages were also derailed by the impact.

 

Siva Saengmanee, chairman of the SRT board of directors, said the accident took place at 2:30 am. The cause of the accident has yet to be investigated, he said.

 

He said a total of 73 were injured and most of them slightly. He said 65 passengers were discharged after receiving treatments at hospitals.

 

He said eight people were severely injured and three of them were SRT employees.

 

Five of the eight severely injured were being treated at the Hua Hin Hospital, and three in San Paolo Hospital.

 

The three slain train workers were on the Bangkok-Yala train. They were identified as Phaichit Chuyod, the driver, Wanida Photihpan, a train attendant, and Thirapong Boonchai, a mechanic.

 

Other passengers were provided a temporary shelter before were transported to a nearby bus station to continue their travel on buses.

 

Channel 7 reported quoting an official as saying that the driver of the Langsuan-Thonburi train might be responsible for the accident because the station already flashed the red light for him to stop pending the switching of track for his train.

 

The accident disrupted train service until 7 am.

 

Siva said six Bangkok-bound trains from southern provinces resumed their travel to Bangkok at 7 am.

 

The Nation