Van Carrying Myanmar Workers Crashes Into Tree After Driver Falls Asleep

Picture courtesy of Matichon.

A passenger van carrying Myanmar migrant workers crashed into a tree in Kamphaeng Phet province on the morning of 13 July, after the Thai driver reportedly fell asleep at the wheel, injuring multiple passengers including one seriously. A two-month-old infant miraculously escaped unscathed.

The crash occurred at approximately 07.00, on Phahonyothin Road (northbound) in Moo 2, Ban Pruek Makrut, Tha Phutsa subdistrict, Khlong Khlung district. Police and rescue teams from the Sawang Kamphaeng Phet Foundation responded to the scene.

They found a white Toyota van (registration from Bangkok) with its front-left side crumpled against a large tree. Ten Myanmar nationals were travelling in the van, along with the 49-year-old Thai driver, Mr Samran, from Khon Kaen province. One woman, seated beside the driver, was trapped in the wreckage and had to be freed using hydraulic cutting equipment before being rushed to Khlong Khlung Hospital. One passenger was seriously injured and several others sustained minor injuries.

Remarkably, a two-month-old baby girl travelling with her mother was unharmed. As rescue workers assisted other victims, the mother was seen calmly feeding the infant, who remained quiet and alert throughout the ordeal.

Initial investigations revealed that the van had picked up migrant workers from Chonburi, Rayong and Bangkok with the intention of dropping them off at Mae Sot district in Tak province, a major border crossing into Myanmar. Mr Samran stated that all passengers were legal migrant workers with valid documentation. He admitted to dozing off at the wheel after driving for two consecutive nights, departing Bangkok at around 01.00.

“I was exhausted. I’ve been making these runs for two nights straight. I fell asleep without realising it,” he told police.

One Myanmar passenger, who spoke limited Thai, confirmed that the group had boarded the van in Chonburi and were returning home to Myanmar via Mae Sot. He said he noticed the driver nodding off moments before the crash.

Police took Mr Samran for drug testing as a precaution and instructed mildly injured passengers to report to Khlong Khlung police station for document verification. Authorities are also investigating whether the driver’s account about the legality of the migrant workers holds up under scrutiny.

  Adapted by Asean Now from Matichon 2025-07-14