Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Luxury cars gone in 60 seconds

– Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community

PHUKET: A semi-trailer transporting six luxury cars caught fire on the Mitraparp Highway in Nakhon Ratchasima early yesterday morning.

The fire destroyed one BMW, two Lamborghinis and a Mercedes Benz, causing damage of about Bt100 million. Police are probing the cause of fire. They were told the cars’ gas tanks were full.

Following a report of the fire at 7.20am, Klang Dong police superintendent Pol Colonel Manote Kerdkwan and team went to inspect the scene at Mitraparp Highway’s 39-kilometre marker and alerted fire engines.

Truck driver Ekkapat Wilamas, 37, told police he was driving the truck uphill with six luxury cars onboard the trailer – two Lamborghinis, one BMW and three Mercedes Benz – when other motorists started signalling him about the fire. Pulling over, Ekkapat found the BMW, which was loaded last, on fire and flames quickly spread to the other vehicles.

He was unable to put out the blaze.

The fire also damaged the truck’s air-brake tubes causing several luxury cars to slide down off the trailer. Some plunged into a roadside ditch, while others blocked two outbound lanes of the highway, causing a traffic jam.

— Phuket Gazette Editors

Thailand News