Truck Carrying Excavator Snags Power Lines, Transformer Crushes Car Roof

Pictures courtesy of Workpoint.

A truck transporting an excavator brought down multiple power poles after snagging overhead lines, causing a transformer on one of the poles, to crash onto the roof of a car. Miraculously, the driver escaped without injury.

The incident occurred at 09:30 on 22 March, near Wat Phai Khiao on Wat Weluwanaram Road in Don Mueang district, Bangkok. Police Lieutenant Sathawat Harnnok, an investigator from Don Mueang Police Station, received the report and coordinated with the Metropolitan Electricity Authority and Don Mueang District Office to assess the damage.

At the scene, a truck carrying an excavator was found blocking a bend in the road. The excavator’s arm had caught a tensioned steel cable securing a power pole, causing it to snap and bring down several poles. Approximately 30 metres away, a black Suzuki Swift with Bangkok registration had been crushed by the fallen transformer, with its roof punctured near the driver’s seat.

Mr. Ekalak the driver of the car, recounted the terrifying moment. He had been driving home, following the trailer at a distance. As the trailer turned right at a three-way junction near the temple, the excavator’s arm struck the steel cable, pulling the pole down.

“I didn’t see the pole falling, only the wires ahead of me. I hesitated, unsure whether to move forward or reverse. In the end, I leaned towards the passenger seat and quickly opened the door to escape. That saved my life,” he said.

The driver of the truck, who had transported the excavator from Pathum Thani, stated that he had made a similar delivery to the same location before without issue.

“I didn’t realise the excavator arm had hooked the cable. I only knew something was wrong when I saw sparks and heard the transformer explode. I immediately stopped, jumped out, and saw the power poles had collapsed onto the car.”

Police have summoned both drivers for further questioning at Don Mueang Police Station and are reviewing CCTV footage to determine liability. Legal proceedings will follow if negligence is established.

-- 2025-03-22