Sleepy driver kills 3 and injures 2 in Songkhla accident

A Thai woman, suspected of falling asleep at the wheel, crashed her pickup into another vehicle on the Songkhla-Natawee Road in southern Thailand. The tragic incident resulted in her death, along with two others, while two more sustained serious injuries.

Officers from Khuanmeed Police Station and rescuers from the Chanong Sub-district and Nitimittaparb Rescue Foundations arrived at the scene at approximately 4.30pm, yesterday, July 8 following notification of the accident.

ThaiRath reported that the accident occurred on a curve of the Songkhla-Natawee Road. Two damaged vehicles were present at the scene: a black Isuzu D-Max and a bronze Nissan Navara. The front of both vehicles was completely damaged.

The female Isuzu driver, who was travelling alone, died at the wheel. The Nissan Navara was carrying four men, including the driver. The driver and a passenger on his left were pronounced dead at the scene, while the other two passengers were seriously injured. Rescuers extricated all occupants from the vehicles and transported the injured to a nearby hospital.

ThaiRath reported that the two vehicles were travelling in opposite directions. It is suspected that the female Isuzu driver fell asleep, causing her to swerve out of her lane and collide head-on with the other car. Brake marks on the road suggested that the Nissan driver attempted to stop but was unsuccessful.

None of the deceased were carrying identification, so officers were unable to identify them. Police are currently awaiting contact from their families.

Police added that the deceased Nissan driver was suspected to be a Thai national working as a construction contractor, while another deceased occupant of the Nissan was believed to be a migrant worker.

In a related report, another fatal accident occurred on a Bangkok expressway on July 7. A Honda sedan crashed into a motorcycle, causing a fire. The sedan driver survived, but the motorcyclist was pronounced dead at the scene.

On the same day, a Thai teenager was killed in a motorcycle accident in Phatthalung province after colliding with a timber truck parked on the roadside.