Train Driver Tests Positive for Drugs Following Fatal Bangkok Collision
The driver of a freight train involved in a deadly collision with a public bus in Bangkok has tested positive for drugs and faces charges of reckless driving, according to authorities.
The incident occurred on Saturday afternoon at the Asoke-Din Daeng railway crossing, where the train collided with a public bus that had stopped on the railway tracks.
The bus caught fire, resulting in the deaths of eight individuals and injuring dozens more. Initial investigations indicate that the bus became immobilized on the tracks due to heavy traffic congestion, which interfered with the proper lowering of the crossing barriers.
Details of the Incident and Charges
The Asoke-Din Daeng railway crossing is known for its heavy traffic and leads to one of Bangkok's busiest intersections.
In addition to the train driver, both the bus driver and the guard responsible for manually lowering the crossing barrier have been charged, police reported.
Authorities have mandated drug and alcohol testing for all train drivers and railway personnel prior to their shifts, stated Pichet Kunadhamraks, director-general of Thailand's rail transport department.
Police have not disclosed the specific substances detected in the train driver's urine test.
Preliminary Findings and Safety Concerns
According to Pichet, preliminary data retrieved from the train's black box indicates that the emergency braking system was engaged approximately 100 meters (330 feet) from the bus, which was insufficient to prevent the collision, as reported by Thai PBS.
Dr Amorn Phimarnmas, president of the Structural Engineers Association of Thailand, told the BBC that he estimates over 100,000 road vehicles pass through the Asoke-Din Daeng railway crossing daily, exceeding the safety limits for such crossings.
Motorcyclists at the crossing are frequently observed weaving through safety barriers to avoid traffic delays caused by passing trains.
The railway tracks were constructed long before the surrounding road infrastructure, and urban development has since expanded around them, leading to what Dr Amorn describes as "risk normalisation."
"It's when risk becomes routine. People think 'it'll be fine' and carry on, until one day we end up with exactly the kind of disaster we've just seen."
Additional reporting was provided by Thanyarat Doksone.
