Pol. Lt. Gen. Siam Boonsom, Metropolitan Police Chief, is tracking progress in the train-bus collision case, investigating whether negligence by any party caused the incident—be it the railway signalman waving the red flag, the train driver, or the bus driver.
Regarding the train-bus collision near the Airport Rail Link Makkasan Station at about 15:30 yesterday (16 May), it resulted in 8 fatalities at the scene and numerous injuries, as previously reported.
At 14:30 on 17 May 2026, Pol. Lt. Gen. Siam Boonsom visited Makkasan Police Station to follow up on the case. Pol. Maj. Gen. Worasak Phisitbanakorn, Commander of Police Region 1, and Pol. Col. Uramphon Khundechsamrit, Chief of Makkasan Police Station, reported progress during a nearly one-hour meeting.
Pol. Lt. Gen. Siam said he came to ensure the investigation is thorough and to review all evidence and damages. He ordered a review of all CCTV footage to determine who was negligent—the railway signalman, the train driver, or the bus driver—and whether all involved followed standard procedures fully, especially since this route experiences daily heavy traffic. He questioned why such an accident occurred despite this.
Initially, police have questioned the train driver but have not yet identified details or filed charges for negligence causing death. The bus driver remains injured and has not been questioned. The railway signalman was taken for a medical checkup and will be summoned for questioning.
CCTV footage shows the train driver did not slow or stop when the signalman waved the red flag indicating the route ahead was unsafe and passage was denied, leading the train to collide with the bus stopped on the road. The train's black box has been retrieved, and experts are being contacted to examine it.
Investigations are also underway into the red flag signaling procedures, such as the required distance the train must maintain and the use of a green flag to signal permission to proceed.
When asked if the signalman’s behavior—briefly waving the flag and turning his back to the train—constituted negligence, Pol. Lt. Gen. Siam said this must be investigated further and railway authorities consulted about the regulations.
Regarding the bus driver’s apparent violation by parking across the railway tracks, authorities will check for any traffic law breaches. The flashing red light signal active during the accident will also be reviewed. Further meetings will determine how to resolve these issues, and the public is urged to respect traffic rules and be mindful when crossing railway intersections, which number in the hundreds.
The latest injury count is 30 people—21 men and 9 women. Fourteen have been discharged, while 16 remain hospitalized. Nine vehicles were damaged, including five motorcycles and five cars.
At 15:00, Mrs. Sureeporn Puangyod, or Tia, 49, younger sister of Ms. Thiam Puangyod, 57, one of the deceased, gave a statement at Makkasan Police Station regarding the train-bus collision at Asoke-Phetchaburi intersection. She said her sister regularly took bus 206 to work as a housekeeper for a company. At the time of the accident, she had not been in contact with her sister but reached out to her sister’s coworker and sent her nephew to check her room but found no one. Her sister’s ID card was found at the scene, leading her to believe her sister was among the deceased. She traveled from Sisaket Province to the Police Hospital's forensic institute. Authorities said the body could be released for funeral rites on 19 or 20 May after DNA testing.
“My sister lived alone in Bangkok, returning home only two to three years ago. When I heard the news, I was deeply saddened and never expected this to happen to her. I want to urge everyone involved to prevent such incidents from happening again.”