Train Driver Tested Positive for Drugs

A freight train collided with a public bus at the Asoke-Din Daeng railway crossing in Bangkok, killing eight people and injuring dozens. The train driver has been charged with reckless driving and tested positive for drugs.

Collision Details

The collision occurred on Saturday afternoon when the train crashed into a public bus that had become stuck on the railway tracks due to heavy traffic. The bus burst into flames, and initial reports suggest the crossing barriers did not lower properly. The Asoke-Din Daeng railway crossing is known to be hectic and leads to one of the busiest intersections in Bangkok.

Investigation and Response

The bus driver and the guard responsible for lowering the barrier have also been charged. Authorities have ordered mandatory drug and alcohol tests for all train drivers and railway staff before their shifts. Preliminary findings from the train's black box showed its emergency braking system was only activated about 100m away from the bus, which was not enough to avoid the collision.

Safety Concerns

Dr Amorn Phimarnmas, president of the Structural Engineers Association of Thailand, estimates that more than 100,000 road vehicles pass through the Asoke-Din Daeng railway crossing every day, exceeding the safety threshold. He attributes the disaster to 'risk normalisation', where people become accustomed to the risks and take them for granted, until a disaster occurs.

Key points

• Eight people were killed and dozens injured in the collision.
• The train driver tested positive for drugs and has been charged with reckless driving.
• The bus had become stuck on the tracks due to heavy traffic, preventing the crossing barriers from lowering properly.
• Mandatory drug and alcohol tests have been ordered for all train drivers and railway staff.
• The train's emergency braking system was activated about 100m away from the bus, which was not enough to avoid the collision.