Chumphon highway crash leaves many injured amid roadwork confusion
Confusing traffic layout under scrutiny after high-impact collision
A collision between a pickup truck and a passenger van on Asia Highway 41 in Chumphon resulted in significant damage and multiple injuries. The incident, which occurred due to a lack of warning lights during road repairs, is the latest in a series of accidents at this site.
At 2am today, May 7, Police Lieutenant Vimol Kaewchu, deputy inspector of Chumphon Highway Patrol, was alerted to the crash involving a pickup truck and a passenger van in Mueang district, Chumphon province. The roadworks, commissioned by the Chumphon Highway Department, involved closing the southbound lane and redirecting traffic through a special lane. Concrete barriers were used to separate the lanes.
The accident took place on the Nakhon Ratchasima Bridge, where a Bangkok-registered Toyota pickup truck, with its front severely damaged, was found obstructing the left lane. Inside were three people: driver Montri, Pana, and Chanchai, all of whom sustained injuries.
They were transported to Chumphon Hospital for treatment. The involved passenger van, a Toyota registered in Pattani and marked as a non-fixed route commercial vehicle, also suffered extensive front-end damage.
The driver, 49 year old Hibroheng, was trapped in the wreckage, with a deformed right leg, and was urgently taken to the hospital along with 12 Cambodian passengers, all of whom had valid passports and were injured.
According to Suriya, a 44 year old volunteer from the Chumphon Welfare Foundation who lives nearby, he responded quickly to the scene upon notification. He discovered numerous injuries, particularly in the van driver, who was trapped inside. Assistance from specialised rescue teams was requested.
The van driver, who was en route from Sa Kaeo to Songkhla with Cambodian passengers, reported that the pickup hit a barrier, causing it to fly into the van’s path.
A witness travelling behind the van observed the pickup seemingly unaware of the barrier until it was too late, resulting in the collision. The witness noted that since the commencement of roadworks, barriers had been installed without sufficient lighting, leading to frequent accidents, reported KhaoSod.
Chumphon Highway Police plan to report the recurring issue to the Chumphon Highway Department, urging them to mandate contractors to install adequate warning lights to enhance road safety. Despite the severity of the incident, no fatalities occurred. Investigations into the precise cause of the accident are ongoing.
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