Gas Delivery Truck Erupts in Flames, Driver Severely Injured: Chonburi

[Georgealbert]

 

 

In a harrowing incident on the evening of November 16, a gas delivery truck caught fire, causing multiple explosions and leaving the driver severely injured.

 

At approximately 17:30, a pickup truck loaded with liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders was traveling along Saphan Mai Road near the Chonburi coastline in Makham Yong, Mueang District. Suddenly, flames erupted from the rear of the truck, followed by loud explosions as gas cylinders ignited.

 

Police from the Mueang Chonburi Police Station, along with firefighters from the Chonburi and Bang Sai municipalities, rushed to the scene to extinguish the blaze. After 45 minutes the fire was brought under control.

 

The aftermath revealed three ruptured gas cylinders and the pickup truck itself was almost entirely destroyed, with only the engine compartment remaining intact. The driver, whose identity has yet to be confirmed, suffered severe burns across his body and was unable to communicate. Rescue workers from the Thammarat Maneerat Foundation administered first aid before transferring the victim to Chonburi Hospital for urgent treatment.

 

Mr. Natthaphon, 34, a rescue worker from Chachoengsao who witnessed the incident, shared his account. He was returning from a family trip to Bang Saen Beach when he saw the driver inspecting the truck, which was emitting thick smoke.

 

“I stopped my car, activated my hazard lights, and helped block off the road. Suddenly, the fire intensified, and the gas cylinders began to explode. I recorded a video for evidence,” he said.

 

The driver sustained serious burns during the explosions. Natthaphon immediately contacted local emergency services and firefighters for assistance. He urged stricter safety measures for vehicles transporting gas, emphasising the difficulty of controlling such fires once ignited. “This time, we were fortunate that no bystanders were injured or caught in the explosions,” he added.

 

Authorities are waiting for the injured driver to recover before questioning him to determine the exact cause of the fire. Police have confirmed that appropriate legal actions will follow based on the investigation’s findings.

 

Pictures and video from responders.

 

-- 2024-11-17

 

 

 

[Tropicalevo]

5 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

I recorded a video for evidence,” he said.

 

So no attempt to help the injured truck driver then.

[degrub]

Also, unsafe to approach if the driver is near the vehicle given what was going on. Most incident commands would make the same call.

 

[Georgealbert]

1 hour ago, degrub said:

Also, unsafe to approach if the driver is near the vehicle given what was going on. Most incident commands would make the same call.

 

Fully agree, any response action plan has to consider responder safety first.

 

This is the remains of one of the cylinders off the truck.

 

[degrub]

Reminds me of a bleve failure.

[Georgealbert]

1 minute ago, degrub said:

Reminds me of a bleve failure.

Could be, but normally in a BLEVE (boiling liquid expanding vapour explosion) I would expect the cylinder to break up more and fly in all directions. I think this was more likely a HICT (heat induced cylinder tear).
 

I also wonder why the cylinder’s pressure release did not operate, maybe laid down for transport, so liquid not gas acting on the pressure release. But impossible to make a full analysis without inspecting the full scene.

[Ralf001]

1 hour ago, Georgealbert said:

 

 

This is the remains of one of the cylinders off the truck.

 

 

I'll bet that made his ears ring !