SURAT THANI: A pickup truck attempting to avoid a collision with a school van swerved off the road and crashed into a tree, resulting in the deaths of seven individuals, including four children. The tragic accident unfolded in the early hours, with rescue teams racing to the scene to assist those trapped inside the vehicle.
According to Thai News Agency, the incident occurred at 07:11 a.m. near the entrance to the Chaiya Transport Office in Pa We Subdistrict, Chaiya District, Surat Thani Province. Chaiya Police Station investigators reported that the dark grey half-cab pickup truck, bearing a Bangkok license plate, had its front end severely damaged after hitting a tree and falling into the median strip. Rescue workers used cutting equipment to extract the victims from the wreckage.
Four children, two boys and two girls, were pronounced dead at the scene. Three adults were initially transported to Chaiya Hospital with injuries; however, two succumbed to their injuries shortly thereafter. This morning, another adult was reported dead, bringing the total fatalities from the crash to seven.
Witnesses recounted to police that the pickup truck was traveling at high speed before swerving to avoid a van that was picking up students. The maneuver led to the vehicle veering off course and ultimately crashing into the tree. Families of the deceased informed authorities that the group was traveling from Chumphon Province, with Trang Province as their intended destination.
The accident occurred merely four kilometers from a previous incident where a tour bus, returning tourists from Betong to Bangkok, overturned and struck a tree, resulting in five fatalities and injuring 30 others the previous night.