CHIANG MAI, Dec 23 — Goh Chiak Hwa has not asked his father Goh Bhak Chai, 61, about the horrific bus crash that took place on Sunday.

As much as he wants to know how his mother and aunty were in their final hours, he could not bear reminding his father of the last time they were together.

“I can’t ask him anything about that as I don’t want him to recall the incident when he saw my mother and aunt dying in front of him.

“This accident has affected all of us, but it is worse for him. I really hope he will recover soon. We fear that the emotional state he is in may affect his recovery,” said Chiak Hwa when met at the Hospital Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai yesterday.

Bak Chai suffered three broken ribs. 

Chiak Hwa said his mother, Ong Chai Hong, 58, and father travelled together with his aunt, Ong Chui Hoe, 51, who was also killed in the accident.

Chui Hoe’s husband, Teo Tien Chor, 60, survived the accident but was badly injured.

“My parents enjoy going on holidays. Since my father retired, they have finally found time to travel,” he said.

Chiak Hwa said it was the first time his parents had gone to Chiang Mai and were looking forward for the trip.

Chiak Hwa said the excitement to celebrate the winter solstice with his parents was crushed when he received a call last Sunday informing him of the accident.

“I was speechless when another next-of-kin called to inform me that the bus my parents were in was involved in an accident. I was just shocked and did not know what to do. 

“I last spoke to my mother on Friday where she said she can’t wait to return home and celebrate the winter solstice with the family,” he said.

Chiak Hwa’s bother Chia Hoo, 30, when met in their hometown in Batu Pahat, Johor said he was still coming to terms with what happened.

“It’s all fated and it was something which no one could predict. I am sad because my mother’s death is so sudden. She called me on the telephone soon after she landed in Chiangmai airport to tell me that everything is fine and asked me to do a couple of things in the house. That’s normal because she is the head of the household.

“And then on Sunday afternoon the travel agent called the house to inform us that an accident had taken place,” said Chia Hoo who is the youngest of the four children, all males.

He said he did not blame anyone for what happened.

“My father and mother are frequent travellers. They have been to China, Vietnam and also to other parts of Thailand a couple of times before.

“I never worried for them but now this has to happen,” said Chia Hoo, who works as a mechanic.

Johor Executive Councillor for Tourism and Domestic Trade Datuk Tee Siew Keong and the District Officer of Batu Pahat Mohammad Halim Hasbullah visited the families of those involved in the accident and offer the State’s condolences.

“It’s a tough time for some of them. I visited a family who lost their mother and the eldest daughter is blaming herself for the death. She told me that she insisted that her mother and her father go on the trip and that she will pay for everything.

“Now her mother is gone and her father lies injured in the hospital,” said Tee.