A BUS ran out of control down Patong hill last night, crashing into other vehicles before plunging off the road and down an embankment. Despite a trail of destruction, casualties were light: four people suffered minor injuries.

Colonel Nitikorn Rawang of Kathu police station said that the brakes falied as the bus descended toward Patong from Phuket City about 7pm.

The out-of-control bus took its plunge on a notorious sharp bend in the road, leaving vehicles banked up a kilometre, as far as the hilltop Chinese temple.

Colonel Nitikorn said: ''It was a real surprise that nobody was seriously hurt. The bus just went straight ahead, and failed to take the bend.

''It collected two minivans, one truck, a saloon car and two motorcycles on the way through.'' The bus was empty, apart from the driver.

The twisting, steep trail across Patong Hill is noted for its treachery, especially in bad weather, but the road was dry at the time of the runaway incident.