AYUTTHAYA: Twenty-nine passengers were hurt when an interprovincial passenger bus travelling from the Northeast to Bangkok plunged into a ditch in Bang Pa-in district on Monday morning. Police believed the driver might have dozed off.
The Bangkok-bound bus, carrying almost 50 passengers, veered off Phahon Yothin Road at kilometre maker 53 and plunged into the ditch dividing the road. The accident occurred in tambon Chiang Rak Noi, Bang Pa-in district at around 9am on Monday, said Pol Col Sanga Theerasaranyanont, deputy Ayutthaya police chief.
The impact injured 29 passengers - 19 women, 9 men and one boy. They were rushed to two nearby hospitals.
A police investigation found that the bus, operated by Cherd Chai Tour Co, left northeastern Ubon Ratchathani province at 6pm on Sunday for Bangkok. A monitoring device showed the bus was travelling at 70km per hour at the time of the accident.
Police believed the driver might have fallen asleep at the wheel. They were investigating.
