Mon 18 May 2026 at 12:51amMon 18 May 2026 at 12:51amFirst responders work at a train crash site near an airport rail link station in Bangkok. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)In short: Thai police have charged a train driver after a crash on Saturday in central Bangkok in which a freight train collided with a public bus at a rail crossing.Eight people were killed in the crash.What's next?The bus driver could also face charges, but remained under medical treatment and has not yet been questioned.Thai police have charged a train driver after a crash on Saturday in central Bangkok in which a freight train collided with a public bus at a rail crossing, killing eight people and injuring 32.Bangkok police chief Urumporn Koondejsumrit said the driver had been charged with negligence causing death. "Evidence clearly indicates reckless conduct leading to fatalities," he said.Mr Koondejsumrit said the bus driver would also be charged, but remained under medical treatment and could not be questioned, so charges had not yet been filed.Investigators are examining whether additional charges may be brought, he said.Engulfed in flamesThe crash happened late on Saturday afternoon near an airport railway station in the central Bangkok. Videos shared on social media showed the train striking the bus and dragging ‌several ⁠other nearby vehicles along the tracks."The bus was stuck at a red light, so it couldn't move. Cars were also blocked and unable to move forward," Wanthong Kokpho, a motorcycle taxi driver who witnessed the crash, told media."The fire broke out immediately … If this ⁠had been a normal working day, the damage would have been much worse."Videos showed a group of rescuers entering the charred bus after the flames were brought under control.Authorities are investigating the ⁠cause ​of the incident.Thailand's roads rank among the world's deadliest, according to the World Health Organization, due to weak enforcement of safety standards.Compensation for victimsIn the hours after the accident, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul visited the scene, alongside other government officials.Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul visited the scene in the hours following the accident (Supplied: Thai Ministry of Transport Public Relations)On Sunday, the prime minister also visited injured commuters at Camillian Hospital in Bangkok. In addition to its investigation, the government has pledged compensation, with the families of people killed in the accident to receive payments of 1.5 million baht ($64,404) while those injured could receive up to 500,000 baht.ABC/AFP/Reuters