Deputy Commissioner of Metropolitan Police Division 1 revealed that the train driver is experienced with over 3 years on the route, while the mechanic has only 14 days of service. CCTV footage clearly shows both remained inside the driver’s cabin the entire time. The investigation team is preparing to conduct a scenic train simulation tomorrow and is intensifying retrospective checks to identify anyone who parked vehicles blocking the railway tracks before the incident.
At 17:30 on 19 May 2026 at Makkasan Police Station, Pol. Col. Kampol Rattanaprateep, Deputy Commander of Metropolitan Police Division 1, provided updates after nearly two hours of meetings regarding the train-bus collision case. He said that the investigation team has questioned 28 witnesses involved, including 6 injured victims still under treatment—4 remain in a coma and cannot be questioned, 1 has been discharged, and 1 more is expected to be questioned tomorrow.
Regarding the 8 fatalities, DNA identification has been completed for 7 individuals, confirming the identities of 6. One victim’s father from Chiang Mai province is currently undergoing DNA comparison, while one victim’s relatives have yet to be located.
On the issue of questioning the freight car attendant, he claimed to have been seated in the second cabin behind the control room and was unaware of the details until the accident occurred and he saw flames, prompting him to immediately run off the train.
From statements by the chief engineer at Bang Sue Locomotive Depot, the head of the technical management department for shunting, and operational staff from the train operations division—who supervise the train driver and mechanic—useful information relevant to the case was obtained but cannot be disclosed. They confirmed the train driver has experience operating this route 58 times since starting in 2023, while the mechanic had only worked 14 days and was on this train for the second time.
Regarding signal officers, they confirmed that the signaling equipment was functioning normally without faults. Investigators collected footage from three CCTV booths; at the booth before the accident site, footage showed the driver and mechanic operating normally inside the control cabin. Tomorrow’s simulation will review flag signaling procedures. Due to limited space and safety concerns, the media will not be permitted to ride the train during this exercise.
Today, Metropolitan Police Division 1 arrested 32 violators who parked in prohibited areas near the railway crossing; 5 have already paid fines of 500 baht each, while 27 have yet to pay. Meanwhile, the investigation team continues reviewing CCTV footage to identify any vehicles parked on the railway tracks before the accident, aiming to locate owners and summon them to face charges under the Land Traffic Act.