14 dead after truck crashes in north-west Thailand mountainous region

BANGKOK (AFP) - At least 14 people were killed Wednesday when a truck carrying local villagers crashed in a mountainous region of north-west Thailand, police and hospital officials said.

"The truck lost control and smashed into a car in front as well as an oncoming bus," said Lieutenant-Colonel Patipan Mahatthanavisan in Tak province.

A spokesperson for the Tak provincial hospital said 14 people died in the accident, which happened near the site of a previous bus crash in March in which 30 people were killed.

Thailand's roads are among the world's deadliest and accidents are common.

A recent report by the World Health Organisation said Thailand saw 38.1 road deaths per 100,000 people in 2010 - behind only the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean and the South Pacific island of Niue.

In some parts of Thailand trucks are used as public transport instead of buses.

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