Eighteen injured as bus driver falls asleep at the wheel on Rama 2

An electric bus crashed into 14 vehicles and injured 18 people, and the Thai Smile Bus has apologized for the incident, saying the driver has been fired, according to a statement released late Tuesday afternoon.

“Thai Smile Bus Company Limited apologizes for the incident. The company will be responsible for all damages, and take full care of every injured person.”

The company said it sent an inspection team to investigate the Number 558 passenger bus and found that there were no issues with the electrical or braking systems.

Thai Smile also interrogated the driver, 59-year-old Boonmee Janthaphan, in which  admitted he fell asleep at the wheel and was startled when traffic started moving. Instead of stepping on the brake, he stepped on the accelerator, causing him to lose control of the vehicle.

“The driver himself admitted that he had little rest and was…