Pick-up slams into pole, splits in half

PHUKET: Police have charged a woman with reckless driving and damage to public property after she lost control of the truck she was trying to drive and slammed into a power pole yesterday.

The driver, Pavalee Khamleang, 27, and her Indonesian passenger were injured in the accident. Ms Pavalee sustained injuries to her neck and back. The passenger, Tranggielia Lokon Parengkuan, 44, injured his arm in the incident.

The crash occurred around 2:30pm in the southbound lanes of Thepkrasattri Road in the Baan Bang Duk sub-district of Mai Khao. The truck, a bronze Mazda, was almost completely severed in half by the collision. Its front side was stuck to a broken and bent power pole,” said Tah Chat Chai Police Captain Thanom Thongpan.

Ms Pavalee and Mr Tranggielia were taken to Thalang Hospital after receiving first aid from rescue workers at the scene.

“According to Ms Pavalee, they were heading to Phuket from Krabi when she lost control in a bend due to slick road conditions following rain,” said Capt Thanom.

Just an hour before Ms Pavalee’s accident, local villagers reported that an 18-wheel truck had lost control at nearby Baan Suan Mapraew, causing a traffic jam.

— Winai Sarot