Pictures courtesy of Khaosod

Five people narrowly escaped injury after their were led by GPS into deep floodwater beneath a bridge on Rama 2 Road in Samut Songkhram province, leaving the vehicle almost completely submerged. All occupants were rescued safely along with their valuables, while traffic and safety warnings were issued due to unusually high sea levels affecting the area.

The incident occurred on 3 January 2026, when Highway Police officers on duty spotted a KIA van, registration from Bangkok, that had plunged into a canal at a U-turn beneath the bridge at kilometre marker 72 on Rama 2 Road. The location was in Khlong Khon subdistrict, Mueang district, Samut Songkhram.

At the time of the incident, water levels in the canal were high due to a sea surge, causing floodwater to pour into the passenger compartment. The van became almost fully submerged, trapping passengers inside and prompting an urgent rescue operation by police and highway patrol volunteers.

Officers later confirmed that there were five passengers in the vehicle, comprising four women and one man. They had been travelling back from Hua Hin and intended to make a U-turn to stop for a meal in the Khlong Khon area and were directed by GPS navigation to turn beneath the bridge where floodwater had accumulated.

Believing the water was shallow enough to cross, the driver attempted to proceed but found the depth was far greater than expected. The van began to float mid-way through the crossing, forcing the occupants to open the windows and call for emergency assistance, allowing them to escape just in time.

Highway Police Sub-Lt Saranpong Onsings, from Highway Police Station 1, Division 2, led the rescue alongside Samut Songkhram highway patrol volunteers. All five passengers were safely evacuated and their valuables were recovered before conditions worsened.

Authorities then coordinated with relatives of the passengers, who travelled to collect them and take them back to Bangkok. The car, which was an electric vehicle, was left in the canal pending recovery by an insurance-arranged tow truck, as immediate removal posed risks of electrical damage and possible danger from live currents.

Earlier on the same day, at 11:40, Highway Police had already reported flooding at the same U-turn location due to high sea levels. Officials warned that Rama 2 Road, particularly lanes heading into Bangkok, was affected on both main and frontage roads, with traffic forced into the right-hand lanes and moving slowly. Khaosod reported that police reiterated warnings for motorists to observe road signs carefully and to avoid U-turns and low-lying sections where floodwater is present, especially during periods of elevated sea levels.

Key Takeaways

• Five people were rescued after GPS navigation led their van into deep floodwater under a bridge on Rama 2 Road.

• The incident occurred during a period of high sea levels, causing severe flooding at U-turn points in Samut Songkhram.

• Police urged motorists to heed warning signs and avoid flooded routes to prevent similar incidents.

  

Adapted by ASEAN Now from Khaosod 2026-01-04

 

 

So the GPS suggested a route , isn't it up to the driver to suss out out if that route is safe ?

Muppets.

The GPS did not do anything.... It is just a tool.. The driver who drives the car is always responsible and has to see where he is going.. Easy to blame on the GPS, but that was not behind the steering wheel

How many posts have we seen on AN alone, with the words, "GPS leads car..."?

8 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

The GPS did not do anything.... It is just a tool.. The driver who drives the car is always responsible and has to see where he is going.. Easy to blame on the GPS, but that was not behind the steering wheel

That may be true today, but this kind of story doesn't bode well for autonomous self driving taxis that they're trying to push on us in the next few years. Whether we like it or not, we may not have a choice.

Must have been a Blind School outing