NAKHON RATCHASIMA: A Bangkok-Si Sa Ket bus with an expired registration ran off the road and overturned in a grassy, roadside ditch on a highway in Sung Noen district overnight, injuring eight people.
The passengers were trapped in the bus, which was lying on its side when rescuers arrived at the scene, near the 25 kilometre marker on Highway 24, near Ban Nong Waeng intersection, in the early hours of Wednesday.
Everyone was helped out safely.
Seven passengers, including two young girls, were treated for minor injuries. The driver had a serious wound to his head and was unconscious, rescuers said.
The driver was identified as Somyot Thamwat, 41, an employee of the Bangkok-based bus company Suksawatdi Rana. He was taken to Sung Noen hospital.
The bus was en route from from Bangkok to Si Sa Ket, police said.
Passengers said they felt the bus sway to the side before it overturned. They suspected the driver had nodded off to sleep at the wheel.
Police said the vehicle's registration had expired on June 30 this year. Its condition was last inspected by transport officials on July 2.
