At least 16 killed, 30 injured in road accident in northeast Thailand

BANGKOK, March 22 (Xinhua) -- At least 16 people were killed and more than 30 others were injured in a collision between a tour bus and an 18-wheel trailer truck in northeastern Thai province of Nakhon Ratchasima on Wednesday night.

Initial report from rescue workers said that the double-decker was carrying about 50 passengers for a sight-seeing trip in Chanthaburi and it was heading back home in Kalasin, but as the driver was steering the vehicle along a downhill curve, he lost control of the bus causing it to jump over the lane into the opposite lane and collided with a trailer truck coming from the direction of Kabin Buri district.

The impact of the collision sent both vehicles to plunge into the roadside ditch.

Rescue workers said there were about 50 passengers in the bus and many of them were trapped inside the wreckage.

Both the dead and the injured were taken to Wang Nam Khiao, Pak Thongchai, Suranaree Technology University, Krungthep Ratchasima and Nakhon Ratchasima Maharaj hospitals for treatment.

Initial death toll was put at 16, including ten women and six men, with more than 30 injured, some of them seriously.

Thai media Thairath said late Wednesday that the death toll has climbed to 18. Enditem