The court granted bail to the train driver and the gate operator who signals trains after police brought them in for detention and filed serious charges during the investigation. Both defendants denied the accusations.
At 11:00 on 18 May 2026 at the Criminal Court, investigators from Makkasan Police Station brought in Mr. Sayomporn Suankul, a freight train driver, and Mr. Uthen Chomkiri, a state enterprise officer, who are suspects in a case of negligence causing death and serious injury, for their first detention request.
The incident occurred on 16 May 2026 at 15:36 when police were notified of a collision between a train and a public bus at the Airport Rail Link Makkasan station. It involved a freight train traveling from Laem Chabang to Bang Sue, driven by Mr. Sayomporn Suankul, and a bus on route 206 driven by Mr. Laphit Thongboon. The bus was stopped, partially blocking the railway tracks when the train approached from the left and struck the left side of the bus, causing the bus to lose control and collide with other parked vehicles, resulting in property damage, injuries, and fatalities.
Further investigation revealed that Mr. Uthen, the gate operator stationed at the crossing, failed to lower the barrier or signal the approaching train to stop, causing the train driver to be unaware and collide with the stationary bus. Investigators gathered evidence and concluded that the accident resulted from negligence by Mr. Sayomporn, Mr. Laphit, and Mr. Uthen. The charges pertain to the railway area of the Airport Rail Link Makkasan on Asok-Din Daeng Road, Bang Kapi Subdistrict, Huai Khwang District, Bangkok.
The suspects are charged with "negligently causing death and serious bodily injury to others," offenses under the Penal Code sections 59, 291, 300, and 390.
During the investigation, the suspects denied the charges.
At the end of the request, investigators stated the inquiry was incomplete as they needed to examine 30 witnesses and conduct fingerprint and criminal record checks on the suspects. Therefore, they requested detention from 18 to 29 May. They opposed bail requests, citing the severity of the charges and risk of flight if released.
The court considered the matter and permitted the detention.
Mr. Sayomporn and Mr. Uthen subsequently submitted bail requests with collateral, which were under court consideration.
The latest update at around 17:00 reported that the court approved bail for Mr. Sayomporn and Mr. Uthen.
After the detention procedure, Mr. Uthen submitted a bail request during detention, offering his supervisor's position as a guarantee.
The Criminal Court weighed the seriousness of the charges and case circumstances, noting the offenses involve negligence. The suspects have fixed residences and steady employment. Risk assessment reports rated the bail risk as very low, with no evidence suggesting flight risk. Therefore, the court allowed bail during the investigation with electronic monitoring, prohibited travel abroad without court permission, and forbade actions obstructing or damaging the investigation. A 150,000 baht fine applies for bail violation.
The suspects must report to the court monthly, enter into bail agreements, notify their supervisors upon bail expiration, and inform immigration authorities before release.
Regarding Mr. Sayomporn, the court similarly assessed the charges and case conduct as negligence. Given his stable residence and employment, and a very low risk of flight, the court allowed bail during the investigation with electronic monitoring and a 100,000 baht bail amount. A 150,000 baht fine applies for bail violation. He is prohibited from leaving the country without court permission and from any act that could obstruct or damage the investigation. He must report to the court monthly.