PHICHIT, THAILAND — Twenty-five passengers were rushed to nearby hospitals late last night of Wednesday, June 17, 2026 after a double-decker, first-class tour bus bound for Bangkok veered off a major highway and overturned in Phichit's Wachirabarami district.
The incident, which occurred at approximately 11:45 PM, has once again thrown a spotlight on long-distance transport safety after preliminary police investigations revealed the driver allegedly fell asleep at the wheel following alcohol consumption.
Emergency responders, including local rescue foundations and medical teams from Wachirabarami District Hospital, arrived at the scene on Highway 117 to find the luxury coach lying on its side in a roadside ditch, its windshield shattered and passengers trapped inside.
The first-class tour bus was transporting commuters and tourists from northern provinces to the capital city. Witnesses traveling behind the coach reported seeing the massive vehicle sway violently across lanes before suddenly plunging off the shoulder of the highway, flipping completely onto its side.
Rescue workers used specialized extrication equipment to cut through the front windshield and emergency exits to reach the injured passengers trapped in the dark cabin.
Of the passengers on board, 25 sustained varying degrees of injuries, including fractures, lacerations, and severe bruising. Ambulances worked in a continuous loop to transport the victims to local medical facilities. Fortunately, hospital officials confirmed that while several passengers suffered serious trauma, no fatalities have been reported.
"We were all sleeping when there was a sudden, violent jolt," one of the passengers treated for minor injuries recalled. "People started screaming as the bus tipped over. It was pitch black, and bags were falling everywhere. We are just incredibly lucky the bus didn't catch fire."
The driver of the tour bus escaped the wreckage with only minor scratches and was immediately detained by Wachirabarami police at the scene.
According to district police officials, the driver initially claimed that a mechanical failure or a sudden obstacle on the dark highway caused him to lose control. However, physical evidence and statements from passengers who noticed erratic driving prior to the crash led authorities to conduct a breathalyzer test.
The results revealed a blood alcohol concentration well above the legal limit for commercial drivers. Under intense questioning, the driver reportedly confessed to consuming alcohol during a scheduled rest stop earlier in the evening and subsequently dozing off behind the wheel.
Phichit provincial authorities and transport officials have launched a joint investigation into the operating company of the first-class bus line. Investigators are reviewing GPS tracking data to determine the vehicle's speed at the time of the impact and to verify if proper driver-rotation protocols were being followed.
The Department of Land Transport issued a statement reiterating its zero-tolerance policy for driving under the influence, especially within the public and commercial transit sectors.
The driver remains in custody and is facing multiple severe legal charges, including reckless driving causing injury, operating a public vehicle under the influence of alcohol, and endangering the lives of passengers. The transport company could also face heavy fines and a potential suspension of its operating license pending the outcome of the full safety audit.
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