PATTAYA, THAILAND – A delivery driver was seriously injured on Tuesday morning in a single-vehicle crash on Highway 36 near Pattaya.
Crash on Highway 36 near Huay Yai
The accident occurred at around 10.00 a.m. on Highway 36 (Sukhumvit Road) in front of a petrol station in the Huay Yai subdistrict of Chonburi province, according to rescue personnel. A white Isuzu D-Max veered into the central green median, plunged into a drainage ditch, hit a street light pole and then slammed violently into a concrete foundation, severely deforming the front of the vehicle.
Rescue operation and injured driver
The Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Pattaya City Rescue Center rushed to the scene and found the driver trapped in the cab with serious injuries. The driver was identified as Mr. Kiatisak Butdaowiang, 46, who suffered severe back injuries and multiple abrasions across his body; paramedics provided first aid before transporting him to the nearest hospital.
Driver describes loss of control
Despite his injuries, Kiatisak was able to give an initial statement to officials, saying he had been driving from Chonburi province to deliver pineapples to an industrial area in Rayong. According to his account,
“the vehicle suddenly lost control by itself”
said Kiatisak Butdaowiang, driver,
as he reached the section where the crash later occurred, after which the pickup entered the median and struck the structures there.
Witness suspects fatigue at the wheel
A following motorist, Mr. Natthaphon Phoemphun, 29, witnessed the crash and reported that the pickup in front of him
“suddenly swerved to the side, dropped into the central divider and then crashed with great force.”
said Natthaphon Phoemphun, witness.
Natthaphon suspected driver fatigue as the cause and stated he believed the driver might have fallen asleep at the wheel.
Police investigation and warning on tired driving
Authorities continued their investigation into the exact cause of the accident and had not yet released final findings. Officials noted that crashes caused by exhaustion and microsleep on busy expressways were a serious safety risk, especially for long-distance truck and delivery drivers, and stressed the importance of regular breaks on long journeys and planned rest periods for professional drivers. They reminded the public that fatigue at the wheel repeatedly led to serious road accidents with severe consequences for drivers and other road users.