11 including two kids burned to death in Thai van crash 

Bangkok: In an unfortunate incident, 11 people, including two children, were burned to death in a passenger van crash in central Thailand over the Lunar New Year holiday, police said Monday.

According to details, the ill-fated passenger van was carrying 12 people and was travelling from northeastern Amnat Charoen province to Bangkok when it veered off the highway. 

Reportedly, one man had been able to climb out a window, but the other passengers were trapped and died in the blaze.

The survivor, Thanachit Kingkaew, a 20-year-old student, said he was asleep when he was jolted awake after hearing someone scream.

Traffic accidents are common in Thailland, which has a notorious road safety record, particularly during busy public holidays.

 “I woke up and the next thing I know, the van was upside down. I didn’t see what happened,” he said.

“After the crash, the fire started engulfing the whole van starting from the back,” he stated adding that “I started kicking the windows and managed to crawl through a small hole”. 

He further added that “soon after that, the van exploded”. 

Authorities said that it took less than 30 seconds for the fire to consume the whole van. 

As per preliminary reports, the van used both fuel and compressed gas but the gas tank had not leaked.  

In the meantime, authorities are investigating what caused the vehicle to veer off the road.