The National Police Chief visited the scene of the train-bus collision and ordered five measures: to provide care, expedite the investigation, identify causes related to signal and barrier systems, and coordinate with the State Railway of Thailand to establish proactive prevention plans, including strict enforcement against stopping vehicles on railway tracks.
On 16 May 2026, Pol. Lt. Gen. Trairong Phiwpan, Deputy Inspector General of the Royal Thai Police and spokesperson for the Royal Thai Police, disclosed that at approximately 21:10, Pol. Gen. Kittirat Phanphet, National Police Chief, along with Pol. Lt. Gen. Siam Boonsom, Metropolitan Police Commissioner, and their team visited the site where a train lightly collided with a public bus near the Airport Rail Link Makkasan Station in Bangkok.
The National Police Chief expressed deep condolences to the families of those killed and injured in the accident. He urgently ordered relevant agencies to take control of the situation, provide assistance on-site, especially regarding traffic management, and implement five measures to manage the situation.
1. Incident site management: Accelerate the collection of evidence, including CCTV footage from the surrounding area, and mobilize investigators to promptly interview all witnesses and involved parties.
2. Forensic examination management: Assign officials from the Police Forensic Science Office and the Police Hospital's Institute of Forensic Medicine to conduct detailed inspections of the scene and autopsies in accordance with forensic procedures.
3. Vehicle removal: Expedite the safe removal of the train and public bus from the accident site to reopen traffic flow and prevent secondary accidents.
4. Detailed cause investigation: Verify facts regarding the railway barrier system, signal lights, and the behavior of the train and bus drivers involved.
5. Stopping line determination: Review and define guidelines for where vehicles should stop before railway barriers to ensure safety and prevent accidents.
Additionally, the National Police Chief expressed concern about future accident prevention, emphasizing procedures for traffic police and coordination with State Railway of Thailand officials. On routes crossing railways, they must strictly enforce laws forbidding drivers from stopping or parking on railway tracks or dangerously close to them—whether trains are passing or barriers are functioning normally. CCTV systems must be installed to detect violations, with continuous monitoring by officials. Any offenders must be promptly ordered to move their vehicles away from the tracks to ensure safety.
The Royal Thai Police emphasized that they will conduct a transparent and straightforward investigation into the true causes of this accident based on evidence, and will implement proactive preventive measures to avoid further loss of life and property.