Driver of crashed train tested positive for drugs, Thai police say

A freight train driver in Bangkok has tested positive for drugs and been charged with reckless driving following a fatal collision with a bus. The incident occurred Saturday afternoon at the Asoke-Din Daeng railway crossing, where the train struck a bus stopped on the tracks, causing it to catch fire. Eight people were killed and dozens injured. Authorities believe the bus became stuck due to heavy traffic, preventing the manual crossing barriers from lowering. The bus driver and the barrier guard have also been charged. Mandatory drug and alcohol tests for all train drivers and railway staff before shifts have been ordered. Preliminary black box data indicates the train's emergency brake was activated too late to prevent the crash.

Eight people died in Bangkok on Saturday afternoon when a goods train collided with a city bus at a busy level crossing. The train driver had tested positive for drugs and lacked a valid operator's license from the Department of Rail Transport. The impact at the Asok-Dindaeng intersection caused a fireball, igniting the bus's gas canisters and engulfing other vehicles. This incident is described as another avoidable tragedy in the Thai capital, raising questions about the city's infrastructure and safety measures.