Seven Chiang Rai football fans killed

46 hurt after bus overturns in Lop Buri

Seven people were killed and 46 others injured when the double-decker bus they were travelling in, transporting Chiang Rai FC fans to Buri Ram, overturned yesterday in Lop Buri's Lam Sonthi district.

After the accident was reported at 8am yesterday, police and rescue workers rushed to the 33-34km marker on Tha Luang-Dan Khunthod Road to find the wrecked bus lying in a roadside ditch.

Injured passengers were extricated from the wrecked bus and sent to nearby hospitals. At press time, 14 critically injured people remained hospitalised while the others who were only slightly injured were allowed to go home. Only two fans were spared any injury from the accident.

The seven people who were killed were: Chiang Rai's Mae Fa Luang assistant district officer Supoj Pakdisan, 44; Chiang Rai United Football Club webmaster Abhisit Jaikla, 27; Chiang Rai FC fan club president Chinnakorn Sriyap; Jamras Khlathai, 43; Athipong Hanwanich, 27; Sukanya Fujai, 32; and Ekthawat.

The bus was transporting 55 football fans for the match between Chiang Rai FC and Buriram PEA slated for yesterday evening at the I-mobile Stadium in Buri Ram's Muang district.

Initial police investigation found that the bus was travelling fast when the driver veered the vehicle to the side to avoid colliding with an oncoming six-wheel truck. In the process, the bus plunged into the ditch, causing deaths and injuries.

Atthapol Buspakom, head coach of Buriram PEA, yesterday offered his condolences over the deaths and injuries suffered by Chiang Rai FC fans. He said yesterday evening's match would begin with a silent prayer for the deceased Chiang Rai FC fans.

Veteran politician Yongyuth Tiyapairat, father of the Chiang Rai FC president, yesterday visited critically injured fans at Chaibadan Hospital and Phra Narai Maharat Hospital. He also visited fans who were slightly injured at their hotel rooms in Chaibadan district, to give them morale support and agreed to take care of their accommodation expenses.