CHONBURI, THAILAND – Four people were killed and one seriously injured in an early-morning collision between a pickup and a truck on Motorway 7 towards Pattaya.
Early-morning crash on Motorway 7
The crash occurred at about 3:10 a.m. near kilometre 91 by Bang Phra, when a Nissan pickup collided with a Hino truck. The truck was transporting a load of rubberwood. Rescue teams had to clear the scene before traffic could fully resume.
Four dead, one seriously injured
The 34-year-old driver, Natthasit, and his 48-year-old front-seat passenger, Saphawadee, died in the collision. Two male passengers in the back seat were also killed. A fifth occupant survived and was taken with serious injuries to a hospital by the Piew Yieng Thai Foundation.
The identities of the two men who died in the back seat remained unclear because they carried no identification documents.
Truck driver’s account of the impact
The 48-year-old truck driver, Wattana, had been driving from Bangkok to Rayong when he felt a heavy jolt from behind.
“I stopped and then noticed that the pickup had crashed into my vehicle,”
said Wattana, truck driver.
His truck sustained damage to the rear wheels of the trailer, and he immediately alerted police and emergency services.
Microsleep probed as possible cause
The Khao Khiao Highway Police launched an investigation into the cause of the accident. Initial findings indicated the pickup driver might have fallen asleep at the wheel. This could explain why the vehicle hit the truck without any apparent braking.
Fatigue highlighted as traffic safety risk
The accident underscored the danger of microsleep in road traffic. Experts regularly warn of the risks posed by fatigued drivers. Road safety organisations recommend regular breaks during night drives and sufficient sleep before long journeys.