Smash scatters workmen over Thepkrassatri Rd

SRISOONTHORN, PHUKET: A pickup truck with nine workmen in its rear crashed into the back of a 10-wheeled truck, scattering its human cargo over Thepkrassatri Rd in Baan Lipon, Phuket, early Tuesday night.

Nine men were injured in the incident, though none seriously hurt. An image of the aftermath of the smash can be seen here.

The 10-wheeled truck had just completed a U-turn opposite the National Housing Authority project and was moving slowly when the smash occurred, at about 6 pm.

Duty Officer Seksan Komsakorn of Chalong Police said the pickup was moving at around 80 kilometers per hour when the driver, identified only as “Darf”, saw the large vehicle in his path.

He braked, but was unable to prevent the crash.

There were no skid marks on the road surface, indicating that the truck did not skid, Maj Seksan said.

All the men sitting in the back of the pickup were propelled out of the truck by the sudden impact.

The accident was the fault of the driver of the 10-wheeled truck, Maj Seksan said.

“The driver accepted that he had been careless. Even though he saw the pickup coming, he thought the driver would be able avoid him,” he told the Gazette.

Seven of the injured were taken to Thalang Hospital. The other two were sent to Vachira Phuket Hospital.

The pickup driver suffered a head injury. As of March 5, he was still in Thalang Hospital waiting for the results of a brain scan.

Two men were due to be discharged yesterday, while the other six had already been sent home.