Six-wheeled truck crash on Asian Highway injures 4 in Phatthalung

A six-wheeled truck collided with a stationary pickup truck with a flat tyre, resulting in four people being thrown from the vehicle and severely injured. The accident occurred in the early hours of today on the Asian Highway, heading towards Bangkok, in the Praekha area of Khuan Khanun district, Phatthalung province.

The tragic incident unfolded when a Mitsubishi Triton pickup truck, registered in Yala, was parked on the side of the road due to a flat tyre.

The driver, 29 year old Masaoki, and his passengers were waiting for assistance in the dark when the truck, belonging to a transport company and registered in Nakhon Pathom, lost control and crashed into the pickup. The impact propelled the pickup into a roadside tree, causing substantial damage to the vehicle.

Emergency personnel arrived swiftly at the scene to find the pickup extensively damaged and the truck overturned in a roadside ditch. The four passengers of the pickup truck sustained serious injuries. Masaoki suffered a deep, 10-centimetre laceration on his head.

A 20 year old woman, Nurawati, endured a broken right arm and head injuries, lying dazed on the roadside. Areena, a 24 year old woman, had her face cut by shattered glass, with blood streaming down her face and a broken right little finger.

All were given initial medical treatment by rescue workers before being rushed to Phatthalung Hospital for further care. Sorasak, the 25 year old driver of the six-wheeled truck, sustained minor injuries.

Truck crash

Fadew, a 21 year old man, who was in the pickup but uninjured, recounted the harrowing moments.

“I was travelling with my family from Yala, heading to work in Saraburi. Our tyre burst, so we had to pull over. It was pitch dark, and we waited for over an hour for help.

“I had stepped out to relieve myself when I suddenly saw the six-wheeled truck coming straight at us. It crashed violently into the back of our pickup, which then slammed into a tree, throwing everyone out.”

The preliminary investigation by police suggests that the lack of proper lighting and the heavy fog in the area significantly reduced visibility, leading to the accident. The site where the pickup was parked was poorly lit, without sufficient streetlights, which contributed to the truck driver failing to see the stationary vehicle in time, reported KhaoSod.

Despite these initial findings, the police plan to conduct further interviews with both parties involved to confirm the details and gather more evidence.