Asleep at the wheel: Krabi hotel employee killed in head-on collision

PHUKET: An Ao Nang hotel employee was killed in a head-on collision with a 10-wheeled truck in Krabi yesterday.

Klongthom Police and rescue workers were called to the scene at about 5:30pm to find 26-year-old Isahark Thammajit critically injured and trapped inside his pick-up truck.

The driver of the 10-wheeled truck, which was abandoned on the side of the road, was nowhere to be found, said Maj Somphon Sonksaeng of the Klongthom Police.

“Mr Isahark was driving from Koh Lanta to Krabi Town when the collision occurred,” Maj Somphon explained.

“We believe, after surveying the damage, that Mr Isahark dozed off while driving and lost control of the car, causing him to swerve into the oncoming lane of traffic and slam into the 10-wheeler.”

It took rescue workers about an hour to get Mr Isahark out of the vehicle.

“He was immediately rushed to Klongthom Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival,” Maj Somphon said.

The truck driver, 27-year-old Ekkachai Rakram, later turned himself in to police, citing fear of retribution by the relatives of Mr Isahark as his reason for fleeing the scene.

“Mr Ekkachai was transporting wood from Phang Nga to Phattalung when the accident occurred,” said Maj Somphon.

“We have not pressed charges against him, as Mr Isahark’s death has been ruled an accident.”

— Kritsada Mueanhawong