SAMUT SAKHON, THAILAND – A highway construction crane collapsed onto Rama II Road, killing two people and injuring five in a major traffic artery southwest of Bangkok.
Crane collapsed without warning on elevated highway project
The accident occurred on the morning of 15 January 2026 at around 9:10 a.m. on the outbound lanes of Rama II Road near the Tha Chin Bridge in Samut Sakhon. A launching gantry crane used to build the elevated section of Highway 82 between Bang Khun Thian and Ban Phaeo fell onto the central median just before the bridge. Two vehicles were struck by falling crane parts and concrete segments and were completely buried.
Two people died at the scene, while five others were injured. Authorities cordoned off a wide area around the site and urged motorists to avoid the route and use alternative roads.
Equipment spanned both carriageways
According to project details, the collapsed machine was a launching gantry crane operating in construction section 7 at kilometre marker 30+300 between Ekachai and Ban Phaeo. The crane came down suddenly onto both the outbound and inbound lanes without any prior warning. The outbound side of the carriageway was hit much harder than the inbound lanes.
Witnesses reported a sudden failure of the entire structure, with concrete elements and crane sections crashing across the roadway.
Eyewitness describes moments of collapse
An eyewitness who posted under the name Real Champ on Facebook said he had been driving on Rama II Road at the time and directly experienced the collapse. He reported that the crane fell without any alarm on both sides of the road and that the outbound lanes were particularly badly affected. Two vehicles were buried beneath the debris.
“I was lucky because traffic had already thinned out by then. Normally the route is much busier at that time of day.”
said Real Champ, eyewitness.
He stated that he was still in shock and had decided to avoid Rama II Road in future and, if possible, not to drive in the right-hand lane out of concern about further incidents.
Calls for extra caution on major traffic artery
The eyewitness appealed to drivers to exercise special care on this stretch, describing Rama II Road as a main traffic artery with several large construction sites. The route had already seen multiple accidents in work zones in the past. Authorities reiterated their request that motorists steer clear of the area around the current accident site.
Second deadly crane accident within 24 hours
The collapse on Rama II Road came just one day after a devastating train accident on 14 January 2026, in which a construction crane fell onto a moving train, killing 32 people. Within only 24 hours, the two crane incidents claimed a total of 34 lives.
The short interval between the accidents caused shock across the country and sharply intensified the debate over safety standards on major infrastructure projects. The public called for a full investigation and immediate measures to prevent further disasters.
Previous gantry crane accident on Rama II in 2024
The latest accident raised fundamental questions about safety practices for large construction projects, particularly where heavy equipment operates close to public roads. A similar incident had already occurred on Rama II Road in 2024, also involving a launching gantry crane. The recurrence prompted growing doubts over the rigour of inspections and the enforcement of engineering standards.
There has been increasing discussion about the responsibility of the companies involved and whether current controls and oversight are sufficiently strict.
Engineer links collapse to repeated use and stability loss
Associate Professor Anok Siripanichkorn, president of the Engineering Institute of Thailand under royal patronage, told Thai Rath Online that the current incident showed similarities to the 2024 crane accident on Rama II. He said it involved the same type of launching gantry crane and that the likely cause was a loss of stability due to prolonged, repeated use.
“These cranes can be used multiple times, but they require thorough maintenance and functional checks before each deployment.”
said Anok Siripanichkorn, president of the Engineering Institute of Thailand.
On the day of the accident, the crane was transporting around 13 concrete segments, close to its maximum load capacity. Anok said Thailand did have standards for the use of such equipment, but they were not enforced strictly enough.
Demands for registration and tougher penalties
Anok called for a legal obligation to register all launching gantry cranes and for tougher penalties for construction firms, arguing that similar incidents kept occurring. He advised road users to avoid construction sites where such cranes were in operation in order to minimise risk.
“We need mandatory registration for these cranes and stricter punishment for construction companies, because these kinds of accidents are happening again and again.”
said Anok Siripanichkorn, engineering expert.
Authorities investigate cause and liability
Relevant authorities launched an investigation into the precise cause of the collapse, examining whether poor maintenance, material fatigue or operator error played a role. The aim was to develop concrete measures to prevent similar incidents and to restore public confidence in the safety of large-scale infrastructure projects.
Rama II Road remained closed around the accident site until further notice. Drivers were asked to take alternative routes and prepare for severe traffic disruptions.