4 dead, 5 injured in Sa Kaeo crash involving illegal labourers

A head-on collision between a pickup truck and a saloon car resulted in four fatalities and five injuries in a sugarcane forest in Sa Kaeo Province. The incident was linked to a pursuit of illegal labourers.

Reported yesterday, October 15, the accident took place the day before on a road near the permanent border crossing point at Ban Khao Din-Khlong Hat. Police Lieutenant Ekawut Phetsombat from Khlong Hat Police Station in Sa Kaeo was notified of the collision between a four-door pickup truck and a saloon car on Highway 4058.

Initial reports confirmed four deaths and approximately five injuries, prompting Police Colonel Chakthep Phongphai, the station chief, to inspect the scene urgently, assisted by the Khlong Hat Rescue Foundation.

The crash site was on the route towards the permanent border crossing at Ban Khao Din-Khlong Hat, flanked by sugarcane fields. The Sa Kaeo emergency response centre reported that the accident involved a black Isuzu four-door pickup truck registered in Bangkok and a grey Toyota saloon car, also registered in Bangkok.

The pickup truck had four injured occupants: 68 year old Leochai, the driver; 65 year old Somsri, and two children, five year old Pakphra Phut, and six year old Phimphra Phut. The truck’s front end was mangled, and the family was rushed to Khlong Hat Hospital.

The grey Toyota saloon car veered into a sugarcane field, sustaining severe front-end damage. Thanakorn, the driver, was injured, while his four Cambodian passengers, including a child around five years old, perished.

Cars crash

The police investigation revealed that the saloon car was transporting the Cambodians from Si Phen Market near the Ban Khao Din border crossing towards Khlong Hat. Meanwhile, the pickup truck was heading to the Ban Khao Din market from Khlong Hat.

The high-speed saloon car collided head-on with the pickup truck at a curve, causing the saloon car to veer off the road, ejecting the Cambodian passengers and killing them instantly.

The Khlong Hat Rescue Foundation transported the deceased to Khlong Hat Hospital for further examination. Both drivers are awaiting further questioning.

Siripaiboon Wattanavongchai, a member of the Sa Kaeo Provincial Council, expressed his outrage on Facebook, questioning the tactics of the police involved.

“How many more lives must we lose due to untrained officers? They chase without proper tactics, just laws and power, leading to innocent deaths. Is there no better strategy? Who will take responsibility?”

He further criticised the police and government officials.

“Last time, they chased and damaged homes; now, four are dead and three severely injured. Are these officers trained in tactics? What if it had been a school bus? Who would be accountable?”

Wattanavongchai attributed the accident to a chase by the Eastern Border Special Task Force, who were pursuing the saloon car suspected of transporting illegal workers. The chase, conducted at high speed without coordination with other agencies, culminated in the tragic accident, reported KhaoSod.