Nineteen pupils aged 6-11 were injured when their school van was hit head-on by a car that swerved, allegedly to avoid dogs fighting in the road, in Ban Na San district of Surat Thani yesterday morning.
The accident was reported on Chalerm Phrakiat Road in Na San municipality at 7.15am.
The blue van registered in Bangkok overturned during the collision and suffered major damage.
Nearby residents and rescue workers helped the 19 shocked and crying pupils out of the wreckage with some difficulty as they were lying on top of each other and caught between the seats of the overturned vehicle.
The children were taken to Ban Na San Hospital. Four were later referred to Surat Thani Hospital to treat their head injuries.
The other vehicle was a black Nissan March also registered in Bangkok.
Police said Wararee Thanyalaksanakul, 24, was driving out of Na San municipality when she noticed the bickering canines at the last minute in the middle of the four-lane road.
She said she had no time to think and so swerved, at which point she collided with the van.
