Death toll in bus-train collision rises to 20 in Central Thailand

BANGKOK - At least 20 people have been killed after a tour bus, which had 65 passengers on board, crashed with a cargo train in central Thailand on Sunday morning.

Prathueng Yookassem, district chief officer from Chachoengsao Province, about 80 km east of Bangkok where the accident occurred, told Thai PBS TV that rescue workers counted 17 bodies after the collision.

However, three more people died after they were rushed to a nearby hospital.

Prathueng also said that there was no rail barricade when the train ran through the crossroad.

The tour bus, which came from Samut Prakan province and was headed to a temple in downtown Chachoengsao, was immediately overturned due to the collision with the cargo train, which came from Laem Chabang port in Chonburi province and was headed to Lat Krabang area of Bangkok.

The police are yet to investigate and determine the cause of the crash.