The owner of the bus company involved in a tragic fire that left 23 people dead has publicly apologized and offered compensation to the victims’ families. Songwit Chinabut, owner of Chinabut Tour Company, attended the funeral of those who perished, including 20 children and three teachers, and personally asked for forgiveness.
Chinabut committed to providing an initial compensation of 50,000 baht (P85,105) to the families of the deceased. He also pledged ongoing support for other passengers who were injured and are currently receiving medical treatment.
The fatal incident occurred when a school bus, hired by Khao Phraya Sangkaram School for a field trip to Ayutthaya and Nonthaburi provinces, lost control due to a problem with its front right tire. The bus collided with another vehicle and scraped a concrete barrier, which sparked a fire. The bus was carrying 40 people at the time.
The driver, Saman Chanput, has been arrested and charged with reckless driving resulting in deaths and injuries, as well as failing to provide assistance or report the accident. Authorities revealed that Chanput initially tried to extinguish the fire but fled the scene out of panic when he couldn’t control the blaze.
Investigations into the bus company revealed that while Chinabut claimed the vehicle had undergone biannual safety inspections and its gas cylinders met safety standards, police discovered a gas leak from an unregistered tank. Experts from the Office of Police Forensic Science reported that the bus had 11 compressed natural gas tanks, but five of them were unregistered, including the one that leaked, sparking the fire.
The investigation is ongoing to determine whether the bus company adhered to all required safety regulations.