Truck crash: Phuket power pole snapped in half

PHUKET: Two truck drivers emerged unscathed after a high-speed collision that snapped a power pole in two early this morning.

The accident took place on Thepkrassatri Road southbound, in front of the Honda Marine showroom in Koh Kaew.

The driver, who identified himself only as “Cha-oum”, said he slammed into the pole at about 3:30am.

Mr Cha-oum said he had dozed off at the wheel because he hadn’t had enough sleep. He said he was in a rush to deliver the truck’s cargo, small containers of Meiji brand yogurt drink, before it spoiled.

He had been driving the truck from Saraburi province since 5am Monday morning, making deliveries along the way to Phuket, he said.

Both he and the other driver, who was asleep in the back of the cab at the time, were uninjured.

The accident caused a brief power supply disruption in the area, he said.

The 10-wheel truck, belonging to the C. H. Transport company, was heavily damaged in the accident.

In a remarkably upbeat mood despite the accident, Mr Cha-oum said he had already called his employer to report the accident and was not unduly worried about the smash because the vehicle was insured.

— Stephen Fein & Atchaa Khamlo