Minivan Crashes into Elephant, Injuring Two; Elephant Later Found Dead

[Georgealbert]

 

Pictures from responders.

 

A minivan travelling downhill collided with an elephant crossing the road in Chonburi province early morning on 17 February, leaving two people injured. The elephant initially walked away from the scene but was later found dead.

 

The accident occurred at approximately 05:00 on Highway 344, near kilometre marker 44, in Moo 2, Hang Sung subdistrict, Nong Yai district. Authorities arrived at the scene to find a severely damaged Volkswagen minivan, registered in Rayong.

 

According to reports, the minivan was descending a hill near Ban Huai Yama, just before a PTT petrol station, when it struck an elephant that was crossing the road towards Hang Sung. The collision resulted in injuries to two passengers, a man and a woman.

 

Following the collision, locals spotted an elephant near a restaurant called “Khrua Rim Suan” before it wandered behind the Suksomboon factory. Witnesses reported that the elephant appeared agitated, charged towards lights, and chased barking dogs.

At around 10:00, on 17 February, the elephant was discovered collapsed and lifeless in a wooded area behind the factory.

 

Authorities later inspected the site and arranged for the elephant’s carcass to be properly buried in a designated area.

 

-- 2025-02-18

 

[JimHuaHin]

Will the minivan driver face charges for killing the elephant?

[pgrahmm]

Gray road, gray elephant, & the darkness of night....

I Read about two elephant strikes at night a couple of years back it's convinced me to day drive now when we travel....

[fredwiggy]

4 minutes ago, pgrahmm said:

Gray road, gray elephant, & the darkness of night....

I Read about two elephant strikes at night a couple of years back it's convinced me to day drive now when we travel....

Imagine how it is driving in the US where over 300 die each year hitting deer. Slowing down , especially at night, is mandatory.

[pgrahmm]

1 minute ago, fredwiggy said:

Imagine how it is driving in the US where over 300 die each year hitting deer. Slowing down , especially at night, is mandatory.

I don't have to imagine....I lived in the Sierras.....Sometimes 40 deer strikes at night....On highway 395 I hit 2 deer - with 2 different cars in one night - same trip....

#1 - just leaving hardly away from home = bam - deer strike # 1....

Went back & grabbed another car....About 10 hours down the road and BAM - #2 deer jumped from a culvert right into the front of car #2.....

A Jeep with 3 hunters stopped & put the deer out of it's misery....All I had was a pocket knife.....

I told the m what happened with 2 cars & 2 deer same trip....

One hunter piped up "hey, can we ride with you - we've been here a week & haven't seen a deer yet"......

Black bulls/cattle & open range also took tolls....Bad thing there was it would level, take the roof right off a vehicle once it's legs were knocked from under it ....

Yep - I know about that....