Bridge collapse on Rama II Road leaves 3 dead and over 10 injured
A concrete segment of a bridge under construction over Rama II Road in Samut Sakhon province near Bangkok collapsed at about 4am today resulting in three deaths and more than 10 injuries.
The deadly accident occurred on Rama II Road today, November 29, while 39 construction workers were working on the project. A concrete segment, along with the launching gantry crane used to lift and support the bridge segment, collapsed as workers were welding the bridge parts together.
The contractor for this project is reported to be Udomsak Chiang Mai Company, whose name is displayed on the sign affixed to the launching gantry crane.
The construction workers are employed by PSCI Construction company. According to Than Setthakij, the three workers who lost their lives in the incident were identified as a 30 year old Thai man named Apiwat Paphantang and three Burmese men named Chit Ko Ko, Phyo Ko Ko, and Aun Thein Hihy.
Many workers sustained injuries, with 10 of them rushed to a nearby hospital. Daily News reported that 26 workers were rescued safely. However, many were in shock, and some fainted at the scene due to the loss of family members and relatives among the deceased.
The Deputy Director of the Samut Sakhon Highway District, Montri Wongwiwat, stated that officials have not yet determined the cause of the accident. An expert engineering team is expected to investigate the incident after conducting a risk assessment.
The Highway Police urged motorists to avoid Rama II Road and instead use Phetchakasem Road. Traffic in the area remains congested, and officials are working to clear the road as quickly as possible.
Despite multiple accidents reported on Rama II Road, security measures remain insufficient, leading to yet another tragic incident. According to TNN Online, 2,242 accidents occurred on Rama II Road between 2018 and January this year, resulting in 132 deaths and 1,305 injuries.
One of the most serious accidents on this road occurred on May 8 of last year, when a concrete segment fell on a construction worker, killing the victim at the scene.
Another shocking accident, which alarmed motorists, took place on July 31, 2022, when a concrete segment of a U-turn bridge collapsed onto multiple vehicles on Rama II Road, leading to two fatalities.
