Commuters urge road safety after Bangkok crash kills eight

Commuters in Bangkok are calling for stricter enforcement of traffic laws after a freight train struck a bus at a level crossing, killing eight people. The crash has renewed concerns over road safety standards in Thailand.

Reuters

17 May 2026 at 05:13:41

A crane lifts a bus that collided with a train and several cars on Asok-Din Daeng Road, causing several casualties, in Bangkok, Thailand, May 16, 2026.

Athit Perawongmetha/Reuters

Thai commuters urged drivers to obey traffic laws on Sunday (May 17), a day after a freight train struck a bus at a rail crossing in Bangkok, killing eight people.

Another 32 were injured on Saturday (May 16) after the train hit the bus at a level crossing, igniting a fire that engulfed the vehicle, rescue officials and a deputy transport minister said.

Commuters familiar with the route said they had always feared the collision would eventually happen, as traffic kept passing through the crossing despite stop signals from railway staff.

"It should not have happened. I want all drivers to know traffic laws properly," said Thanphisit Nawatkonoangkoon, a 20-year-old train commuter.

Thailand's roads rank among the world's deadliest due to weak enforcement of safety standards, according to the World Health Organization.

Production: Tananchai Keawsowattana, Napat Wesshasartar/Reuters

Thai commuters urged drivers to obey traffic laws on Sunday (May 17), a day after a freight train struck a bus at a rail crossing in Bangkok, killing eight people.