Bangkok freight train hits bus at crossing, killing 8

A freight train struck a public bus stopped at a Bangkok rail crossing Saturday, sparking a fire that killed eight people and injured 32 others, The Korea Times reported.

The crash highlights chronic road and rail safety failures in Thailand, which the World Health Organization ranks among the world's deadliest countries for road fatalities due to weak enforcement of safety standards.

The bus had stopped at a red traffic signal on the tracks at a central Bangkok level crossing when the freight train slammed into it, according to The Korea Times. The impact triggered a fire that engulfed the vehicle and pulled several nearby cars along the tracks.

"The train driver has been charged with negligence causing death, as evidence clearly indicates reckless conduct leading to fatalities," Urumporn Koondejsumrit, head of Makkasan Police Station, told Reuters.

Police said the bus driver also faces charges but could not be questioned because he was receiving medical treatment, The Korea Times reported. Vehicles had continued moving through the crossing despite active stop signals, authorities said.

Train commuter Thanphisit Nawatkonoangkoon expressed frustration at the scene over the preventable nature of the crash. "It should not have happened. I want all drivers to understand traffic laws properly," he said.

Thai authorities said they cleared the site and restored rail service the same day, pledging to tighten safety measures and oversight at level crossings nationwide.

Thailand's roads rank among the world's most dangerous, with the World Health Organization pointing to chronic underenforcement of traffic laws as a key driver of the country's high fatality rates. Authorities' latest pledge to strengthen crossing safety comes as pressure mounts for systemic reform.