Car Crashes into Lorry and Bursts into Flames, Killing Driver in Nakhon Ratchasima

[Georgealbert]

 

Pictures from responders.

 

An incident in the early hours of the morning of 17 February, claimed the life of a driver when a car crashed into the back of a 10-wheel lorry, registered in Ubon Ratchathani, carrying paper, causing the vehicle to burst into flames.

 

The collision occurred at approximately 04:40 on the bypass road leading from Chor Hor district, at the intersection junction for Nakhon Ratchasima and Saraburi. The Mercedes had approached from behind and slammed into the lorru at high speed. Upon impact, the car was engulfed in fire, trapping the driver inside.

 

Emergency services, including firefighters and rescue personnel, rushed to the scene to extinguish the blaze and retrieve the victim. However, the fire had already consumed most of the vehicle by the time responders arrived, making rescue efforts impossible. The driver, whose identity has not yet been confirmed, was dead at the scene, with the badly charred body found still in the remains of the driving seat.

 

Police and forensic teams are investigating the cause of the crash, examining whether factors such as driver fatigue, or poor visibility may have played a role. The ICE powered Mercedes-Benz, had no gas conversion, but details of the exact model and registration, was not available, due to the damage.

 

The lorry driver, who was unharmed, was taken in for questioning to provide further details about the moments leading up to the collision.

 

 

Authorities are urging motorists to drive with caution, particularly during early morning hours when visibility is low and fatigue-related crashes are more common.

 

-- 2025-02-17

 

[Georgealbert]

UPDATE
Driver Identified in Fatal Mercedes-Benz Crash in Nakhon Ratchasima

Picture from responders.

 

Authorities have identified the victim of a fatal car crash that occurred in the early hours of 17 February in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand. The incident took place at approximately 04:40, on Mittraphap Road, just before the elevated bridge at the Sam Yaek Pak Thong Chai intersection, heading out of the city.
 

A Mercedes-Benz sedan collided with the rear of a truck transporting recyclable paper, resulting in a fire that engulfed the car and claimed the life of the driver.

 

Rescue teams from Hook 31 Nakhon Ratchasima and officers from Pho Klang Police Station responded promptly to the scene. Due to the intensity of the blaze, it took several hours to clear the wreckage. At around 11:00 on 17 February, officials employed heavy machinery to remove the debris. Family members of the deceased arrived at the site and, upon confirming the identity of their loved one from the car, were overcome with grief; some fainted and required assistance from local volunteers.

 

The victim has been identified as Mr. Thatchai, also known as “Bank”, aged 35. He served as the head supervisor for a team contracted to install lighting systems for the Motorway No. 6 (M6) project, specifically the Bang Pa-in–Nakhon Ratchasima route. Preliminary reports indicate that Mr. Thatchai had been returning home after escorting his girlfriend to Khon Kaen province. The cash occurred approximately 4 kilometers from his residence near Save One Market in Nakhon Ratchasima. The truck involved was en route to a factory in Prachinburi province, transporting recyclable paper.

 

Authorities are conducting a thorough investigation to determine the exact cause of the collision.

 

-- 2025-02-17

 

[Moonlover]

1 hour ago, Georgealbert said:

Authorities are conducting a thorough investigation to determine the exact cause of the collision.

 

I hope that they include in that investigation the fact that the lorry had an overhang load with no protective rails to prevent a vehicle from 'nose diving' under the rear. It can also obscure the view of the rear lights.

 

It is such a common practice here and makes a rear end shunt like this so much more dangerous.