Picture from responders of the vehicle recovery.

 

A joyful Songkran celebration turned to disaster. late on April 15 when a pickup truck carrying five men veered off the road and plunged into an irrigation canal in Bang Ban district, Ayutthaya province. The crash resulted in one fatality and four injuries.

 

Pol Sub-Lt Damrongsak Saengngern of Bang Ban Police Station reported that the crash occurred around 23:00, along the Bang Ban–Wat Bang Pla Mo Road, Moo 8, in Khob Chao subdistrict. Emergency services, including Bang Ban Hospital rescue teams and Ayutthaya Ruamjai volunteers, rushed to the scene.

 

The vehicle, an Isuzu D-Max registered in Khon Kaen, was found partially submerged in the canal, severely damaged. A large water drum, was discovered in the truck bed, suggesting the group had been celebrating the Songkran festival.

 

Four of the five men were rescued from the canal by local residents before emergency responders arrived. All were soaked and suffered various injuries. One man, later identified as 25-year-old Mr. Natthawut was in critical condition due to being trapped underwater and later died despite resuscitation efforts at the scene.

 

The surviving victims were named as Mr. Wancharoen (24), Mr. Amnuay (20), and Mr. Krisana (35), all of whom were taken to hospital for treatment. The driver, Mr. Sompong (40), was also injured but managed to escape the wreckage and is under medical care.

 

According to Mr. Wancharoen, the group had been returning from Songkran festivities in Ayutthaya and were heading back to their residence in Lat Bua Luang district. He stated that he was unsure why the driver lost control of the vehicle, and only regained consciousness after being pulled from the water by passers-by.

 

Rescue official Mr. Phitsanu Phongphoem confirmed that one man required urgent CPR at the scene due to water inhalation but sadly did not survive.

 

Police are currently investigating the incident to determine the cause of the crash and will interview the surviving victims as part of the legal process.

 

 

-- 2025-04-17

 

Songkran = Festivities and Thai attrition......