Terrifying near-miss in Ratchaburi prompts calls for improved road safety measures

A terrifying incident occurred on a dark, poorly lit road when a white sedan suddenly emerged from a side road, narrowly missing a pickup truck, before crashing into a road sign and street isle. The drivers of both vehicles, as well as passengers, escaped unharmed from the ordeal in Ratchaburi province.

A social media user shared a video of the near-fatal accident on Facebook, stating that they were driving the pickup truck through an intersection at Photharam-Ban Pong Road in the Photharam district of Ratchaburi when the incident took place. The unexpected appearance of the sedan led to panic among the occupants of the pickup truck, with the passengers screaming out in fear.

Chanaporn Wanchareun, the owner of the video, explained that the collision occurred near a canal intersection around midnight on June 4. She stated that she managed to stop her vehicle in time, preventing any injuries or damage. The accident left her shaken and she decided to post the video online as a cautionary tale for others on the road, reported KhaoSod.

Officials later discovered that the area where the accident took place was not well-lit and lacked appropriate signage and illumination. It was also noted that no other accidents had occurred at this specific location in the past, possibly because most people using the road were locals familiar with the route. It is assumed that the white sedan driver was not familiar with the area.

The local police representative stated that they would coordinate with the contractors of an ongoing bridge construction project to improve the lighting, signage, and warning signals in the area to prevent further incidents. The representative also urged motorists to drive more cautiously to prevent loss of life and property.

In response to the incident, the sedan driver clarified on Facebook that they were not intoxicated, distracted, or having vehicle problems. They explained that they miscalculated the T-shaped road junction, stating…

“At the canal road, there was no light, no sign, and nothing to slow down the vehicle, so I didn’t turn left and went up the middle island. Thank you for your concern, but all six of us in the car were sensible and safe.”