Pickup truck plunges into Bangkok canal in shocking late-night incident
A shocking incident unfolded today when a pickup truck plunged into a drainage canal alongside Vibhavadi Rangsit Road. The driver managed to escape unharmed and reported that the accident occurred while he was swerving to avoid a municipal water truck.
Late that night, Police Lieutenant Colonel Theerapoj Thonghet, an investigator at Vibhavadi Police Station, received a report of a pickup truck falling into a drainage canal at the entrance of Soi Vibhavadi 46, Lat Yao subdistrict, Chatuchak district, Bangkok.
On the scene, they found a white Toyota Hilux pickup truck with the license plate number 3733 Udonthani, entirely submerged in the canal.
The driver of the pickup truck, 36 year old Chawalit was found safe on the bank with minor injuries but declined to be taken to the hospital.
The operation to recover the vehicle from the canal took more than an hour.
Chawalit recounted driving from the Victory Monument using the outbound side of Vibhavadi Road. He planned to make a U-turn to head back home towards the Ratchadaphisek area.
As he neared the accident site, which has a hump bridge over the drainage canal, he encountered a district office water truck watering plants, leading him to brake suddenly.
Unable to stop in time, he swerved and lost control, resulting in the vehicle falling into the Vibhavadi roadside canal.
In the aftermath of the accident, Chawalit, in shock, managed to stay calm as the vehicle was sinking. He found an object in the truck to smash the window and escape.
Initially, Chawalit expressed no intention to press charges as the incident did not result in any property damage. The event was documented for future reference.
In related news, a fatal car crash claimed the life of a town clerk in Samut Songkhram. The tragic accident occurred when the town clerk was driving home and collided with a sedan, resulting in his death.
The police sent the body for an autopsy and are urgently investigating the cause. This incident took place at 11.30pm on December 28.
