15 people die in Thailand school bus crash

At least 15 people, including 13 children, were killed when a bus carrying students collided with an 18-wheel truck in eastern Thailand.

According to authorities, the deadly accident took place on Friday in the province of Prachinburi, leaving over 30 others wounded.

“Thirteen students and two teachers died — 11 of them at the scene — and more than 30 injured are in three nearby hospitals,” Police Lieutenant Colonel Anukarn Thamvijarn said.

The students, aged around 10 to 14 years old, were going to the resort city of Pattaya from the northeastern province of Nakhon Ratchasima.

Five of the injured are in a serious condition, Thamvijarn said, adding, “The bus’s brakes may have failed or the driver might have fallen asleep.”

The accident is said to have happened on a steep and winding stretch of highway.

Thailand lacks high safety standards and sees numerous deadly road accidents.

According to a recent report by the World Health Organization, Thailand has had some 38.1 road deaths per 100,000 people, which puts it behind only the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean and the South Pacific island of Niue.

In December 2013, nearly 30 people were killed after a bus carrying New Year travellers plunged off a bridge in Thailand’s northeast.

In October, 20 people lost their lives when a tour bus fell into a ravine also in northeast Thailand.