Two children among 11 burned to death in Thai van crash over Lunar New Year
- The van carrying 12 people was travelling from northeastern Amnat Charoen province to Bangkok when it veered off the highway in central Nakhon Ratchasima province
- Thai police said one man had been able to climb out a window, but the other passengers were trapped and died in the blaze
Eleven people, including two children, burned to death in a passenger van crash in central Thailand over the Lunar New Year holiday, police said on Monday.
Traffic accidents are common in the kingdom, which has a notorious road safety record, particularly during busy public holidays.
The van carrying 12 people was travelling from northeastern Amnat Charoen province to Bangkok when it veered off the highway in central Nakhon Ratchasima province on Saturday night, said Police Colonel Yingyos Poldej.
Yingyos told Agence France-Presse that one man had been able to climb out a window, but the other passengers were trapped and died in the blaze.
The survivor, Thanachit Kingkaew, a 20-year-old student, said he was asleep when he was jolted awake after hearing someone scream.
“I woke up and the next thing I know, the van was upside down. I didn’t see what happened,” he said.