After the devastating fire in a school bus in Thailand that left many dead, the driver turned himself in to the police. The 48-year-old initially fled after failing to control the flames with a fire extinguisher, the Kahosod newspaper reported, citing police. According to authorities, 23 inmates died in the fire on Tuesday: 20 children and three teachers. Several other children were seriously injured. The group was on a school trip.

The driver has now been questioned by the police. He is accused of negligent driving that resulted in death, injury and property damage, it said. He is also accused of failing to provide assistance. Photos circulating on the Internet also showed him initially trying to control the flames with a fire extinguisher.

He confirmed the statements of eyewitnesses that a burst tire was responsible for the accident. As a result, the coach swerved into another lane, rammed a car and then scraped along the guardrail. The fire broke out in the gas-powered vehicle. What was particularly bad was that the emergency exit apparently couldn’t be opened. The bus company responsible had its license temporarily revoked, the newspaper “The Nation” reported.

Identifying the victims is difficult

A total of 38 students between the ages of 6 and 15 and their six companions were on the bus. They were on their way from Uthai Thani province for a trip to the capital Bangkok, 200 kilometers away. According to broadcaster ThaiPBS World, most of the victims were burned beyond recognition. In order to identify the dead, DNA samples were taken from relatives.

Thailand is one of the countries with the most serious traffic accidents in the world. Motorcyclists are particularly often affected. Entire families often travel on a single scooter without helmets. In addition to poor road conditions, excessive speed and drunk driving, the causes of many serious accidents are also outdated vehicles that are not sufficiently maintained.