Picture courtesy of Amarin.

 

A road crash narrowly avoided leading to a tragedy on the morning of 24 May, when a passenger minibus skidded off the road and overturned in a roadside drainage ditch amid heavy rain in Rayong province, injuring eight people.

 

The crash occurred at approximately 08:10 near the entrance to U-Tapao Airport on the inbound Sukhumvit Road in Ban Chang district. According to the Siam Rayong Foundation’s radio operations centre, a white passenger minibus operating the Chonburi–Pattaya–Sattahip–Rayong route veered off the slick road and overturned into a drainage canal roughly two metres deep.

 

Emergency services and rescue teams were immediately dispatched to the scene, where they discovered the vehicle lying on its side. All eight occupants, including the 53-year-old driver, Mr. Wichai Karamruen, were trapped inside. Four passengers, including Mr. Wichai, sustained serious injuries, while the remaining four suffered bruises and suspected fractures.

 

In a stroke of good fortune, a group of Royal Thai Navy officers happened to be passing by the scene and quickly intervened, helping to extricate the victims from the wreckage and administer first aid. They also assisted in managing traffic to prevent further incidents until official rescue personnel arrived and transported the injured to a nearby hospital for emergency treatment.

 

Speaking from his hospital bed, Mr. Wichai explained that he had picked up passengers in Chonburi and was en route to Rayong when the crash occurred. He said torrential rain had made the road slippery, causing the vehicle to spin out of control before tumbling into the drainage ditch.

 

Ms. Narisa Suttijak, 45, one of the injured passengers, described the moment, as she was seated at the rear of the van. “The rain was heavy, and the van was going quite fast. It began swerving violently before flipping over. Everyone was screaming. We were so lucky the navy officers stopped to help us,” she said.

 

Authorities are continuing their investigation into the incident and have urged motorists to exercise extreme caution during adverse weather conditions.

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Amarin 2025-05-25.

 

 

 

The rain did not do anything it is the driver, probably, speeding, playing phone, or bad maintenance of the car... a bad skillsman always blames his tools....

8 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

Speaking from his hospital bed, Mr. Wichai explained that he had picked up passengers in Chonburi and was en route to Rayong when the crash occurred. He said torrential rain had made the road slippery, causing the vehicle to spin out of control before tumbling into the drainage ditch.

 

8 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

Ms. Narisa Suttijak, 45, one of the injured passengers, described the moment, as she was seated at the rear of the van. “The rain was heavy, and the van was going quite fast. It began swerving violently before flipping over. Everyone was screaming. We were so lucky the navy officers stopped to help us,” she said.

Clearly the driver was at fault for not driving to account for the conditions!, trying to blame the torrential rain, no Wichai, no!

Hold on, are you telling me wet roads are not the same as dry??????!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!!?!?!?!?!?!?  Show me the science!!!!!  Ah, forget it, I'll check TikTok.  Traction, stopping distance, and hydroplaning...   that means go faster!!!  Let me ask ChatGPT but then not listen to the warning.  These drivers need better education.  

 

How much more dangerous?

• Some studies indicate that the risk of a crash increases by 27% in mild rain and 75% in moderate rainstorms. 
   
• Weather-related crashes are more frequent on wet pavement, accounting for 75% of weather-related vehicle crashes. 
   
• Over 3,400 people are killed and over 357,300 are injured in crashes during rainfall annually. 

On 5/25/2025 at 2:24 PM, Quentin Zen said:

These drivers need better education.  

 

They have zero training or education, they don't even know road rules or laws in their own country, let alone understand safe driving practices in bad weather conditions. 90% of Thai drivers shouldn't even be permitted to drive.

On 5/24/2025 at 11:15 PM, Georgealbert said:

He said torrential rain had made the road slippery, causing the vehicle to spin out of control before tumbling into the drainage ditch.

 

He just couldn't lift his right foot during the "torential rain"?

On 5/25/2025 at 5:15 AM, Georgealbert said:

He said torrential rain had made the road slippery, causing the vehicle to spin out of control 

Oh, it wasn't the speed or the slick tyres or driver error. 

 

Bloody rain is at fault again.