Cement truck takes out parked car, small restaurant

PHUKET: The driver of a cement truck that slammed into a parked pick-up truck, a motorcycle and a small restaurant on Tuesday in central Phuket, has been charged with reckless driving and will be tested for drug use.

The cement truck was en route from Cherng Talay to the Heroines Monument in Thalang at about 3pm when the accident occurred, said Lt Col Sanit Nookong of the Thalang Police.

“Luckily, no one was injured in the crash, he told the Phuket Gazette. “The restaurant wasn’t open. It is usually busy with customers sitting there enjoying their food.”

The truck driver, Suchart Sinma, 30, told the police that he was forced to swerve to avoid a head-on collision with a pick-up truck.

“The pick-up came into my lane while the driver was overtaking a car. I had to swerve to avoid hitting it,” he said.

Col Sanit said police were unable to locate any witnesses to confirm Mr Suchart’s claim of the oncoming vehicle.

“And there are no CCTV cameras in this area, so we are moving ahead with pressing charges,’ he said.

— Thawit Bilabdullar