Man Killed After NGV Crashes Into Road Sign and Erupts into Flames

Picture courtesy of Matichon.

A man died in a fiery crash in the early hours of the morning of 6 June, after his CNG powered car collided with a road sign and exploded, trapping him inside as the vehicle was engulfed in flames.

The incident occurred at approximately 03:10 near Ban Nong Nam Thip, about 600 metres from the Phahonyothin Road junction in Ban Mi district, Lopburi province. Police Lieutenant Chatree Sappayniyompong, deputy investigator at Mueang Lopburi Police Station and volunteers from the Ruamkatanyu Foundation, responded to the scene.

Upon arrival, emergency crews discovered a car ablaze at the base of a roadside directional sign. Firefighters from the Khao Phrangam Subdistrict Municipality were quickly deployed and managed to extinguish the flames after a fierce blaze.

Once the fire was under control, investigators inspected the burnt-out wreckage, which had been destroyed beyond recognition. Although the make and model were not immediately identifiable, it is believed to have been a BMW sedan. A scorched licence plate bearing only the numbers “8596” was recovered. The charred body of a man was found in the driver’s seat, burned beyond identification. No documentation or personal effects were found due to the intensity of the fire.

Ms. Kanueng Ketbunjong, 54, who was staying overnight at a nearby farm, witnessed the horrifying sequence of events. She reported seeing the car travelling along Phahonyothin Road before making a sudden U-turn and accelerating loudly. “The car spun once, then crossed over to the opposite lane, revved the engine and crashed straight into the signpost,” she said. Moments later, the rear of the vehicle exploded into flames. Her husband attempted to douse the fire with an extinguisher but was unsuccessful and further explosions followed as the fire spread rapidly throughout the vehicle.

Ms. Kanueng also noted that the road is a known hotspot for illegal street racing among local youths, with motorbikes and pickup trucks frequently using the stretch for high-speed contests.

At the crash site, police discovered the vehicle’s rear window had been blown clear of the car and landed nearby. Investigators also found a gas tank installed in the car’s boot, along with several picnic-style butane canisters, suggesting that flammable materials may have intensified the blaze.

Authorities have sent the body to Ananda Mahidol Hospital for forensic examination and are continuing their investigation to identify the victim and determine the exact cause of the incident.

  Adapted by Asean Now from Matichon 2025-06-07