A tragic road accident claimed the lives of two people early this morning, April 4, when a van carrying navy conscripts collided with an 18-wheeler in Chachoengsao province. The van, which was hired by navy personnel returning to their homes for the Songkran holiday break, veered off course when the driver reportedly fell asleep at the wheel.
The incident occurred at 4.30am on Highway 304, near the Poon Submarket in the Phanom Sarakham district. Upon receiving the emergency call, police officer Sunthorn Amornwet and rescue workers from Phanom Sarakham rushed to the scene. They discovered a horrifying spectacle: a white passenger van from Bangkok, lying overturned in the middle of the road. Its roof was ripped open, and more than ten passengers were scattered across the tarmac, injured.
The van, carrying a total of 13 navy conscripts, had collided with a trailer truck transporting a container, resulting in the vehicle flipping over. Two individuals tragically lost their lives—one at the scene and another at the hospital.
Emergency responders worked swiftly to aid the survivors, transporting them to a nearby hospital for urgent care. Rescue personnel also had to use specialised equipment to extricate the deceased and two more injured individuals who were trapped inside the van.
The survivors, who were all navy conscripts granted leave for the Songkran festival, shared that they had rented the van to travel from a military camp in Chon Buri to their hometown in Nong Bua Lamphu province. They recounted that most of them were asleep during the journey before the crash happened, leaving them disoriented and in shock following the accident.
Initial reports from rescue services indicated that three individuals were critically injured, with another ten sustaining less severe injuries. Authorities from the Royal Thai Police and rescue services are conducting a thorough investigation to determine the precise cause of the accident and will take appropriate legal action based on their findings, reported KhaoSod.
The driver of the 18-wheeler, who was unharmed, witnessed the van suddenly drift off course and collide with his vehicle. The impact damaged the right rear side of his truck but, fortunately, he did not sustain any injuries.
Thailand News
