Bus driver turns himself in to police and admits the brake of the bus has failed

The driver of the double-decker bus which lost control and crashed on highway 304 in Wang Nam Khiao district of Nakhon Ratchasima Wednesday night turned himself in to Wang Nam Khiao district police on Thursday afternoon (March 22).

The 45-year-old driver, Mr Krisana Chuthachuen, told the police that he was shocked with the fatal accident in which 18 people were killed and 32 injured, so he escaped from the scene as officials and rescue workers were concentrating helping pulling the injured out of the bus wreckage and rushing them to hospitals.

He, however, said that he felt guilty with the incident and decided to surrender to the police to face charges against him.

Mr Krisana admitted that he was fully aware that the braking system had failed as the bus was descending downhill and gaining speed which was beyond his control.

The driver’s statement about brake failure corroborated with statements of several survivors that they smelled something burning under the bus and knew them something went terribly wrong.

Some of the passengers said they crouched low, hoping that this would help reduce the impact in case there was an accident.

Nakhon Ratchasima governor Wichien  Chantharanothai said inspectors were trying to determine the causes of the fatal accident which included the physical conditions of the road and the braking system of the bus.