Pickup Crashes into Ambulance, Severing Power Pole & Causing Large Blackout. Ayutthaya

[Georgealbert]

 

 

 

The collision occurred late night on October 5 and left a pickup truck mangled, a power pole snapped in two, and areas of the city plunged into darkness. The incident occurred on Rojana Road, Ayutthaya, when a speeding pickup truck collided with an ambulance and then careened into a power pole, causing significant damage to local infrastructure.

 

Police Lieutenant Dechathorn Khamming from Uthai Police Station reported that the accident took place around 22:30. A Ford four-door pickup, registered in Phitsanulok, rear-ended an ambulance, the driver lost control, and crashed into a power pole near kilometre marker 13 in Kanham Subdistrict, Uthai District, Ayutthaya.

 

 

At the scene, officers found the power pole split in two, with a damaged transformer, leaving the surrounding area without electricity. The front of the pickup truck was utterly destroyed, with the engine ejected and lying on the sidewalk some distance away. Inside the vehicle, 45-year-old Mr. Athorn (surname withheld) was found seriously injured and trapped. Rescue workers rushed him to Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Hospital for emergency treatment.

 

The impact of the crash also left the ambulance, belonging to the Phutthaisawan Foundation, damaged. The right rear side was hit, and the back tyre burst. The driver, Mr. Wichai (surname withheld), a volunteer, was visibly shaken by the collision.

 

Mr. Wichai explained that he had been driving in the right lane when he noticed the pickup truck rapidly approaching from behind. It slammed into the rear of his vehicle before veering off the road and crashing into the power pole. Wichai immediately tried to assist the injured driver but was forced to call for backup when smoke began rising from the wreckage.

 

The collision caused a widespread power outage in the area. Uthai Provincial Electricity Authority teams worked to restore electricity, with initial assessments revealing significant damage to a high-voltage power pole and a transformer belonging to the Department of Highways. The blackout impacted street lighting, and repair costs are estimated to exceed 100,000 baht, though further evaluations are needed.

 

Authorities are continuing their investigation, gathering detailed statements from the drivers and assessing the scene to determine the exact cause of the accident. Both vehicles are being examined for evidence, and legal proceedings will follow based on the findings.

Picture from responders.

-- 2024-10-05