Horror in Phuket: Lorry With Failed Brakes Causes Mass Tunnel Crash
A stretch of peaceful Tuesday morning in Phuket turned into a disaster zone in seconds. At around 11:47am, the Dara Samut Intersection Tunnel was transformed from a routine traffic bottleneck into a scene of utter devastation. A large lorry, its brakes catastrophically failed, came thundering toward the stationary line of vehicles, smashing straight into the heart of the jam, and setting off a horrifying chain reaction.
Eyewitnesses described the chaos: the lorry, reportedly from Ranong, barreled out of control, leaving drivers and passengers completely helpless. Within moments, crumpled metal and shattered glass littered the tunnel. Sirens soon pierced the air as emergency services raced to the scene—a full hour was needed just to remove the mangled vehicles blocking the vital artery.
Unbelievably dramatic footage captured from a car approaching in the opposite lane revealed the scale of destruction. So fierce was the impact, a pickup truck was actually launched over the concrete barrier and into oncoming traffic. By some miracle, no one was hurt in that other lane.
Brakes Fail in Phuket’s Tunnel: Disaster Strikes and Police Move In
The police soon arrived to untangle what would become one of Phuket’s most talked-about crashes. According to Wichit Police, the culprit was a deadly technical failure: the lorry’s brakes simply stopped working. The lorry had been on a routine run, bound for Nai Harn Beach laden with foundation supplies. But as it descended into the deep, downward-sloping tunnel, gravity rapidly turned a mechanical flaw into disaster.
A police spokesman confirmed the worst fears. “The momentum going into the tunnel made it impossible to stop,” he explained. For the driver behind the wheel, there was nowhere to go—except headlong into disaster. He was promptly arrested and now faces serious charges for reckless driving causing injury.
Injuries and Panic as Rescue Crews Battle Tunnel Mayhem
The human cost of the mass pile-up was immediate. At least one person, overcome with chest pains and respiratory distress, had to be rushed to Phuket Vajira Hospital. Paramedics worked tirelessly at the scene, administering first aid among the twisted hulks of cars and trucks. There are fears other victims may have simply left on their own, their injuries yet to be fully counted.
Police and emergency crews worked side by side. Their urgent task: clear the debris-lined tunnel, reopen the vital road, and restore some sense of order. For hours, life in Phuket was thrown into chaos as traffic backed up for miles.
Renewed Fears Over Tunnel Safety in Thailand After Shocking 15-Car Smash
As the dust begins to settle, many in Phuket—and across Thailand—are left asking hard questions about tunnel safety. This is not the first time a tunnel has been rocked by tragedy, but a 15-vehicle pile-up is shocking even by Thai road standards. Experts have sounded the alarm for years, demanding stricter checks on lorries before they enter tunnels, tighter speed limits—especially on downhill stretches—and improved emergency exits and ventilation systems.
Public confidence has been rattled once more. Residents are left to wonder, how many more disasters like this must happen before sweeping changes are made in Thailand’s growing network of tunnels?
