Two tourists were injured when a bus rolled downhill and crashed into a car in southern Thailand.

Mexican holidaymakers Nancy, 30, and Cristina, 48, were on a tour of tropical island Phuket when their bus lost control while driving up a steep slope on November 12.

Dashcam footage shows the vehicle rolling backwards as panicked motorists scrambled out of the way.

The bus struck a pickup truck, dislodging its door, before ploughing into a massage parlour at the bottom of the slope.

The driver, Pakin Chanplad, 57, remained at the scene for questioning. He claimed the engine died while the bus was going uphill.

Police said the two Mexican women suffered minor injuries and were taken to Chalong Hospital for treatment.

Police Captain Phirawat Yodtor of Karon Police Station said: ‘The injured tourists were two Mexicans, Nancy, 30, and Cristina, 48, who sustained minor injuries and swelling on their heads.

‘The incident is under investigation, but the driver was not under the influence; an alcohol test was already conducted.

‘We suspect the crash was caused by the steepness of the road.'

Despite being one of the wealthiest countries in Asia, Thailand suffers from chronic underinvestment in its highways and education, contributing to its poor road safety levels. Only a handful of African countries are worse.

Thailand has one of the world's worst road safety records. Ministers have set the goal of reducing fatalities from 32.7 deaths per 100,000 people to 12 per 100,000 people by the year 2027.