At least two people died while more than 40 were injured when a car crashed into a tour bus carrying students on a field trip in Thailand on Friday evening.

The blue double-decker was returning from a study trip in Chonburi when it collided with a black Chevrolet along a road in the Pak Nam subdistrict of Sukhothai province on March 17.

Police Lieutenant Tawin Kiewpan and Sawankhalok district police went to the scene after receiving a report at around 11:36 PM.

They found the black car with its bonnet crushed, while the tour bus had fallen into a roadside ditch.

Rescuers battled to free the passengers trapped inside. They sent 27 people to the Si Nakhon Hospital, 19 to Sawankhalok Hospital, and one to Srisangworn Hospital.

Police Captain Wichian Chaichanapeerakul said: 'The bus was transporting students from the Ban Nong Haen School for a field trip to Chonburi. The accident occurred during the return trip around 20 kilometres before reaching the school.'

Authorities said they will be investigating the cause of the crash.

Local media later reported that a student Ruedeekarn Praijaturas, 14, and substitute driver Kitsutat Siribansorn, 21, died in the crash.