A LARGE group of Chinese tourists were in a state of shock with some even fainting after their tour coach raced into the sea in Pattaya due to a brake failure last night, Thai News Agency said today (June 7).
The tour coach was taking 34 Chinese tourists and their guides to a seafood restaurant in Pattaya soi 18 off Pattaya-Naklua Road at 10.30 pm however when the coach driver braked to stop the large vehicle on this sloping alley he failed to do so.
Upon hitting a pickup truck parked at the side he headed straight to the beach but the coach only stopped after zooming into the sea and halted about 50 meters from the road.
Rescue officials had a lot of difficulty in plucking the tourists and their guides from the coach but managed to get all of them out safely with only a few being slightly injured but most were panicky and some had fainted.
Thaweechokchai Plangthaisong, 49, the tour coach driver, said the brakes broke down but whether this was due to heavy use of the vehicle or it is of not good standard has still to be determined.
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Top and inset: The tour coach parked in the sea in Pattaya while Chinese tourists walk down the beach after the terrible accident. Photo: Thai News Agency
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