AYUTTHAYA: Seven students collapsed as they arrived at school in a passenger van the operator had illegally modified and was using for a school transport service, in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya district on Wednesday morning.
The students, three boys and four girls aged 6-12 years, were rushed to Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Hospital, where they were reported to have recovered.
The van had taken them from their communities in Uthai district to Pracha Suksa School in downtown Ayutthaya.
The driver, Wanaree Jindarat, 52, told police she usually kept the windows of the van open for ventilation and switched on the fans while taking students to school. However, it rained heavily on Wednesday morning and it was cold. So she decided to shut the windows and turned on the air-conditioner and fans, Thai media reported.
As the van was old, using the air-conditioning caused the engine to lose power, resulting in a jerky ride. So she switched off the air-conditioner and used the fans instead, the driver said.
When the van arrived at the school, seven of the students complained of feeling dizzy and then collapsed. She called out for help and they were soon rushed to hospital, Ms Wanaree said.
Police examined the vehicle and said it was modified for use as a school van, but it did not have the necessary permission to provide a transport service for students.
Legal action would be taken against the van operator for recklessness causing injuries and operating an illegally modified vehicle.
Atchara Ketneeyabut, director of provincial transport office, said later the van operator had been fined 2,000 baht for illegally using a vehicle as a school van and another 2,000 baht for using an illegally modified vehicle.
The operator had obtained legal permission to convert the vehicle to use gas as fuel. Checks found no evidence of a gas leak, Ms Atchara said.
