PAK CHONG, THAILAND – A pickup truck collided with a wild elephant near Khao Yai National Park before dawn, leaving the driver critically injured while the animal fled into the forest.
Driver critically hurt in pre-dawn crash
Shortly before 5 a.m. on 4 January 2026, a pickup crashed on a rural road in the Heo Pla Kang area along the boundary of Khao Yai National Park. The vehicle, driven by 63-year-old Suriya Lertrittha, was heading from the Thanarat junction toward Klang Dong in darkness when it apparently struck the animal. The impact severely deformed the front of the truck, scattering debris across the roadway.
Rescue operation at the crash scene
Police Lieutenant Colonel Saharut Suphannahphasat and rescue workers arrived to find the driver trapped in the wreck. He had suffered serious head injuries and had to be cut free from the vehicle by volunteer rescuers using tools. Suriya was rushed to Bangkok Hospital–Khao Yai, where his condition was described as life-threatening.
Elephant fled into national park forest
The wild elephant appeared to have survived the collision largely unharmed and immediately retreated into the forested safety of the national park. Park rangers and officials launched a search operation but were initially unable to locate the animal.
“We have to find out whether the animal is injured. A search is under way,”
said Chaiya Huaihongthong, park chief.
Road known for dangerous wildlife encounters
Authorities noted that the crash site was part of a stretch long known for dangerous encounters between vehicles and wild animals. Several years earlier, a motorist had already died in a similar collision with an elephant along the same road. Local residents said the animal was likely crossing the road on its way back into the park after a night-time feeding trip.
Warnings for drivers near protected areas
The incident served as a stark reminder for anyone driving near wildlife conservation areas, where the risk of animal crossings was extremely high, especially at dusk and during the night. Motorists were urged to drive slowly and cautiously and to respect the low speed limits in such zones. Elephants can step onto the road suddenly from the darkness without warning, and collisions almost always end tragically for both humans and animals.
Ongoing search for potentially injured animal
While the driver fought for his life in hospital, authorities also focused on the elephant, warning that an injured and frightened wild animal could pose a danger to the public. Park rangers continued their search for the animal within the national park. The heavily damaged pickup was taken to Moo Si Police Station for detailed examination, as officials stressed that the case highlighted the ongoing conflict between humans and wildlife along the borders of Thailand’s national parks.