The scene of an accident where a tour bus carrying Chinese tourists plunged off a road on the popular Thai resort island of Phuket, killing three and injuring 16, on March 25, 2015. [Photo by ssaily via Sina Weibo]

BANGKOK - A tour bus carrying Chinese tourists plunged off a road on the popular Thai resort island of Phuket on Wednesday, killing three and injuring 16, police said.

The bus was traveling downhill, lost control and fell into an embankment in Chalong district, police Col. Noppadon Thiraprawat said. He said it was on its way from Phuket's Kata beach to Phang Nga province, another popular beach destination in southern Thailand.

The three Chinese tourists killed were two women and a man, Noppadon said. Fifteen Chinese tourists and a Thai guide suffered minor injuries.

"It was a steep hill and the bus driver said the brake was not working," Noppadon said. "We have ordered investigators to check the brake's condition, but overall the vehicle did not look that old."

The Thai driver will face charges of causing deaths by reckless driving, he said.

Phuket is a popular destination among Thai and foreign tourists. While best known for its beautiful beaches, the island also is notorious for its hilly roads.