Crash Claims Driver’s Life and Injures 12 Workers in Chonburi

Pictures from responders.

A crash occurred on March 7, when a pick-up truck, driving through heavy rain, collided with a power pole in Chonburi province. The crash resulted in the death of the 62-year-old driver, identified as Somporn, and left 12 workers injured, including six men and six women, who were thrown from the back of the vehicle.

The incident took place at approximately 14:30 on the Nong Chak-Panassnikhom road in the Ban Bueng district. Police were alerted to the scene by the local rescue team, who quickly arrived with emergency responders from Ban Bueng Hospital.

Upon arrival, authorities found a Mitsubishi pick-up truck, which had crashed into a power pole. The driver was found dead at the scene, trapped inside the vehicle. Several passengers, who had been working as sugarcane cutters, were scattered on the roadside, crying out in pain. Rescue teams rushed to provide first aid and transported the injured to Ban Bueng Hospital.

One of the injured, 34-year-old Sangdao, who was traveling in the truck, recounted the events. She explained that they were on their way back to their accommodation in Nong Bon Daeng when the heavy rain made it impossible to continue working in the fields. She couldn’t recall how many people were in the vehicle, but described how the truck driver lost control and struck the power pole. Some workers were thrown from the back of the truck, sustaining various injuries.

Another worker, 42-year-old Somporn, who had intended to travel with the group but had stayed behind to help load sugarcane onto another vehicle, arrived at the scene after receiving a call from an injured friend. Upon arrival, he discovered that the driver, Somporn, had lost his life in the crash.

The employer was also informed of the crash and was on their way to the site. Authorities have documented the scene and will question the injured passengers to determine the cause of the incident. The investigation is ongoing.

-- 2025-03-08