Runaway Truck Wheel Falls from Bridge, Knocks Out Retired Thai Army Official

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture courtesy of ThaiRath.

 

A retired Thai army official was seriously injured yesterday after a freak incident, in which a loose wheel from a pickup truck fell from a bridge and struck him on the head while he was riding a motorcycle beneath it.

 

The incident occurred at approximately 15:00 on 10 April, beneath the Bang Khu Wat Bridge in Pathum Thani province. Police and emergency services were alerted to the scene by local residents who witnessed the dramatic event.

 

Upon arrival, officers from Mueang Pathum Thani Police Station and volunteers from the Ruamkatanyu Foundation discovered a white Isuzu pickup truck parked on the descending lane of the bridge. The front left wheel was missing, having become detached while the vehicle was in motion. The driver, Mr. Nantawat 49, was unharmed.

 

Roughly 200 metres away, underneath the bridge near a U-turn point, responders found a Honda motorcycle lying undamaged on the roadside. However, its rider had sustained head injuries. He was identified as Lieutenant General Anusorn Pichaironnarongsongkram, 62, a former Director-General of the Army Documentation Department. 

 

He had lost consciousness at the scene. His helmet was split, indicating the force of the impact. Paramedics from Pathum Thani Hospital administered first aid and transported him to the hospital for further treatment.

 

Mr. Nantawat recounted the incident to police, explaining that he had been en route to an air-conditioning repair shop when he heard a loud noise from the front of his vehicle while ascending the bridge. The vehicle began to shake, prompting him to steer it carefully to the side. Moments later, a motorcyclist approached to inform him that the missing wheel had fallen from the bridge and struck someone below.

 

Eyewitness Ms. Kanokporn Janpitak, a nearby resident, said: “I was sitting in front of my house and looked up to see the wheel falling from the bridge. It hit the motorcyclist right on the head as he was riding underneath and making a U-turn. The motorcycle toppled over, and the wheel rolled to the side of the road. I ran over and found him unconscious, with his helmet broken. I called 191 immediately to get help.”

 

Police are continuing their investigation into the mechanical failure that caused the wheel to detach, and possible legal charges.

 

-- 2025-04-12

 

[flyingtlger]

Talking about being in the wrong place at the wrong time! Good thing he had a helmet on....

 

[JoePai]

Heck what's the chances !

 

Lucky he had sense and was wearing a helmet

[Ralf001]

Brake fail ?