KANCHANABURI, THAILAND – An overloaded pickup carrying 44 migrants from Myanmar overturned during a long police chase on Highway 323, injuring 21 people while the driver fled on foot.
Police pursuit on Highway 323
According to the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) and the Highway Police Division, officers in Sai Yok noticed a white Mitsubishi Triton with no valid rear licence plate and a fake front plate.
When the driver spotted the police vehicle, he accelerated sharply and drove recklessly, at times using the oncoming lane to avoid being stopped, investigators said.
Pickup overturns near Wang Dong
Officials stated that the chase continued for more than 50 kilometres before the pickup lost control and overturned near kilometre markers 81 to 82 in Wang Dong subdistrict of Kanchanaburi town.
Rescue teams and police arrived shortly after and found debris scattered along Highway 323, but discovered that the driver had already escaped in the confusion.
Overcrowded pickup with 44 migrants
Inside the overturned vehicle, officers reported finding a total of 44 migrants from Myanmar packed tightly into the cargo bed, none of whom could present valid documents.
Twenty‑one people were injured and taken to nearby hospitals, while the pickup truck was seized as evidence and the crash site was cordoned off.
Route to Malaysia and high smuggling fees
During subsequent questioning, the migrants told police they had entered illegally from Yangon via a natural border crossing in Sangkhla Buri district and were headed for Malaysia.
Each person had paid 130,000 baht to smugglers, with the understanding that this sum would later be repaid through work, investigators said, citing the statements.
Investigations into all involved
Authorities found that none of the occupants could produce a passport or any other identification documents, and immediately opened investigations for violations of entry and residence regulations.
All detained individuals were transferred to Lat Ya police station, where they reportedly admitted in initial interviews to the illegal entry and to the agreed payments to suspected human traffickers.
Dangerous escape raises questions
The incident involved a 50‑kilometre chase, an overloaded pickup and 21 injured migrants, while the unidentified driver fled and left everyone behind.
Public debate in local reports focused on who should bear primary responsibility and how such life‑threatening transport operations along the route towards Malaysia could be stopped.