Pictures from responders.

 

An incident occurred on the afternoon of 17 March, in Khon Kaen, when an 18-wheeler truck driver lost control and collided with the rear of a tanker truck carrying 48,000 litres of highly flammable fuel. 

 

The incident occurred as the fuel tanker was en route from the fuel depot in Nam Phong District, Khon Kaen, bound for Rayong Province and prompted emergency services to respond with extreme caution due to the risk of a fire or explosion.

 

The collision took place on the Khon Kaen bypass road, near Ban Non Rueang, in the Muang District. Emergency responders quickly arrived at the scene to find the 18-wheeler truck, registered in Maha Sarakham, with its front severely damaged. The driver was injured in the crash and was promptly transported to Khon Kaen Bangkok Hospital for treatment.

 

The collision caused a rupture in the fuel tanker, leading to a significant fuel leak from the damaged valve area. Fortunately, no immediate fire broke out, but the potential risk remained extremely high due to the nature of the cargo.

 

To prevent any ignition, fire trucks from Ban Kho Municipality, Samran Municipality, and Sila Municipality, along with foam trucks from the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) Region 6, were deployed to the scene. The emergency teams used water spray curtains, to suppress flammable vapours and prevent any ignition sources effecting the scene. The leak was contained by using the DDPM hazmat kit.

As a precautionary measure, the Khon Kaen Highway Police and local authorities closed off traffic around the site, advising motorists to avoid the area. They also warned the public to refrain from stopping to view the incident, smoking, or using mobile phones in the vicinity, as potential ignition sources.

 

The transport company responsible for the delivery quickly dispatched another tanker to the scene, to the transfer the fuel from the damaged truck. Engineers from the Khon Kaen Petroleum Depot were also on hand to supervise the fuel transfer process, ensuring that the operation was carried out safely.

 

The investigation into the cause of the collision is ongoing.

 

-- 2025-03-18

 

Maybe the 18-wheeled truck driver needs to look forward more often & not so much where he has been .................LOL