5 family members killed in early morning collision in Nakhon Ratchasima

An early morning collision today has taken the lives of 5 family members in Thailand’s lower northeastern province of Nakhon Ratchasima. One boy, aged 5, and two girls, aged 3 and 11, along with other family members, were killed when a pickup and sport utility vehicle collided in the Non Daeng district at around 6:40 am on the Mitrapap highway near the Ban Krok village of tambon Yao Yai, which lies north of Nakhon Ratchasima town. 4 men were also injured in the crash.

28 year old Anuwat Onnual, the driver of the Isuzu pickup, told police that he and 2 other male passengers were returning to Bangkok after unloading meatballs in Nong Khai province, when he lost control of the pickup, causing it to swerve across the highway median and collide with an oncoming Toyota SUV in Non Daeng district. Anuwat admitted he had fallen asleep at the wheel.

The other family members apart from the children killed were a 30 year old woman, who was driving, and another 35 year old woman. 2 other men who were in the SUV were also seriously injured along with 2 other men in the pickup. Those who were injured were separately admitted to Khong, Sida and Non Daeng hospitals, which are situated along the Mitrapap highway where the accident occurred.

Police say all 7 people who were travelling in the SUV were of the same family, in which 5 of those family members were killed. Police say an investigation was underway.

The accident is the latest in Thailand’s ongoing dangerous road saga, as 2 days ago, a Thai singer died after crashing his car into a lamppost while on a video call with his girlfriend. 23 year old Akkarachai, known as Ice, was found dead at the scene on Pahonyothin Road, or Route 1.

SOURCE: Bangkok Post