Pictures courtesy of Kaoded

An express train on the Padang Besar–Hat Yai line collided with a pickup truck at a railway crossing in Sadao district, Songkhla province, killing one person and injuring another. The crash occurred at about 10:55am on 18 January at the Ban Bang Khwai crossing, Moo 7, Thung Mo subdistrict.

Police said the pickup had stopped on the tracks moments before the train arrived at speed, leaving the occupants unable to escape in time. The vehicle was struck forcefully and hurled some distance across an embankment, with debris scattered across the crossing. Emergency responders confirmed one fatality at the scene and also transported an injured survivor to hospital.

Officers from Sadao Police Station and rescue workers from Ruamjai Padang Besar attended the site to secure the area and begin an investigation. The pickup was a white four-door Isuzu, registration in Songkhla, which suffered severe damage. The deceased was named as Mr Theerassakฯ, aged 30, from Uthai Thani province, while the injured man, Mr Phanu, aged 26, was taken to Padang Besar Hospital.

Witnesses told police that the pickup had emerged from a nearby village road and came to a halt on the railway line. They said the train approached at high speed and struck the stationary vehicle before it could be moved. Several witnesses observed that the pickup had a lowered suspension, which may have caused the undercarriage or leaf springs to catch on the rail as it climbed over the crossing.

Local residents added that the pickup was known to travel through the area regularly to collect daily loan repayments. They said it crossed the same railway point every day and that warning signs from the State Railway of Thailand are clearly installed at the location. The crossing does not have barriers, relying instead just on signage and driver caution.

Kaoded reported that investigators have not yet confirmed the exact cause of the vehicle becoming immobilised on the tracks. Forensic officers have been asked to examine the scene and the wreckage to establish whether mechanical modification or road conditions played a role. Police said findings would be used to determine responsibility under the law.

Key Takeaways

• An express train struck a pickup at a Sadao railway crossing on 18 January, killing one man and injuring another.

• Witnesses believe a lowered suspension caused the pickup to become stuck on the rails before the collision.

• Police and forensic officers are investigating to determine the precise cause and any legal liability.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now from Kaoded 2026-01-19

 

 

Stopped to see if there was a train coming....stopped on the tracks!

If he had gunned it and kept going, would still be alive. OP says that he was known in area and had used crossing before. Pretty stupid to stop. These crossings are dangerous but it does look like there's plenty of warning signage. Barriers are not always an answer as idiots just drive around them unless they cover the entire width of the road on both sides. Maybe warning lights of train approaching would be a good idea.