Police hunt for truck driver after teen crushed in fatal crash

PHUKET: Police are searching for the driver of a cement-mixer truck who hit and ran over a local student at Phuket Rajabhat University yesterday.

The student, Chalermchai Lakbaan, 18, died instantly when his head was crushed under the wheels of the juggernaut.

The incident occurred in front of the Phuket Cement Co Ltd site on Prachasamakkee Road in Rassada, at about 1:30pm, said Capt Udom Petcharat of the Phuket City Police.

“We are searching for the truck driver, and we have urged the company to try to find him and convince him to surrender to police,” he said.

Witnesses told police that Mr Chalermchai sped up to overtake the truck, which at the same time began to turn right to enter the cement factory site.

“We still need to look at CCTV footage to clearly confirm what happened,” Capt Udom Petcharat said.

Mr Chalermchai’s body was taken to Vachira Phuket Hospital.

The truck has been impounded at remains at Phuket City Police Station.

— Kritsada Mueanhawong

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