Bus driver loses control, crashes into people & building

28 กรกฎาคม 2557

Driver of minibus has seizure, loses control and crashes, causing serious injury & destruction, the latest in a series of health-related driving incidents causing death & destruction.

The driver of a minibus reportedly had an epileptic fit and then ran into a motorcycle taxi queue and a fruit store in Bangkok. (Facebook photos from Volunteer Rescue Thailand)

ROAD SAFETY

Epileptic drivers & road safety

Bus driver has seizure before crash
27/07/2014
Online Reporters

The driver of a minibus reportedly had an epileptic fit and then ran into a motorcycle taxi queue and a fruit store. A motorcycle taxi driver was struck and lost a leg in the crash while two others sustained minor injuries. Three motorcycles and a pickup truck were also damaged in the crash.

The incident happened on Sunday while travelling through the Din Daeng area (at Promphan intersection on Prachasongkroh Road). The bus conductor said the driver had an epileptic seizure while the bus was moving and fell unconscious. The No.12 bus was on a run from Huai Khwang to Pak Khlong Talat, near Memorial Bridge.

In June, in a similar incident in Nong Bua Lamphu, a former school director suffered an epileptic fit behind the wheel and ploughed his car into a group of students aged 9 to 12 years old, killing four and injuring 10.

Bualam Ngobudda, 57, a former school director was driving when a sudden seizure caused him to lose control of the vehicle.

The car ran into a group of young grade 4 students who were walking to school to see a science exhibition.

The vehicle swerved and hit three parked cars before crashing into a tree.

One boy and three girls were killed on the spot. Six boys and four girls were injured.

After the accident, the former school director got out of his car and waited for police to arrive.

The former school director accepted responsibility for what happened and was later freed on bail. He was on record as suffering from epilepsy and has been involved in several road accidents before. When he worked in government service a driver would take him to and from school.

Currently, only those suffering communicable diseases, insanity, alcohol addiction or drug abuse are considered unqualified to receive a driver's licence.

In 2007, Kanpitak Patchimsawat, a son of a rich real estate developer, rammed his car into a group of people at a bus stop and a passenger bus in Bangkok while he was suffering an epileptic fit behind the wheel.

After this tragic accident, the Medical Council and the Land Transport Department met to discuss the possibility of amending the health requirements for driving licence applicants.

Regulations were proposed to require driving licence applicants to prove they were physically and mentally fit to drive. Adoption of US and EU standards of issuing driving licences were suggested, but proposal had not been accepted mainly because of the department's concern about a rise in the cost of manpower in handling the driving licence applications which would eventually lead to an increase in the application fee.

A list of other health problems that were suggested might disqualify driving licence applicants was also included such as epilepsy, muscular dystrophy, visual problems, hearing problems and heart disease.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/most-recent/422744/bus-driver-has-seizure-before-crash