BANGKOK, THAILAND – A freight train driver has tested positive for drugs following a devastating collision with a public bus that left at least eight people dead and dozens injured at a busy railway crossing on Saturday, May 16.
Multiple Charges Filed
According to police statements cited by the BBC, the freight train driver has been officially charged with reckless driving after a urine test confirmed the presence of unspecified drugs.
In a wider sweep of accountability, authorities have also filed charges against:
- The driver of the public bus involved in the crash.
- The railway guard responsible for manually lowering the barrier at the Asoke-Din Daeng crossing.
Black Box Revelations
Preliminary findings from the train’s black box data reveal that the emergency braking system was activated only 100 meters (roughly 330 feet) before impact. Officials from Thailand’s rail transport department stated this distance was entirely insufficient to stop the heavy freight train in time.
Witnesses at the scene reported hearing the train’s warning signal but noted that the crossing barriers were never lowered, allowing a stream of vehicles to enter the tracks just before the collision.
Aftermath and Immediate Policy Shift
Video footage from the scene captured the moment the train barreled into the crowded crossing. The force of the impact pushed several vehicles down the tracks before the bus burst into flames, setting nearby cars on fire and throwing motorcyclists from their bikes.
In direct response to the tragedy, Thailand’s rail transport department has ordered mandatory daily drug and alcohol testing for all train drivers and railway staff before they begin their shifts.
