Crash Kills 3, Including 2 Chinese, Police Find 23 Mobile Phones

Pictures courtesy of Khaosod

A Toyota Fortuner crashed into a tree in Kamphaeng Phet province early on 22 January 2026, killing all three occupants at the scene and triggering a wider police investigation after officers found 23 mobile phones inside the vehicle. The single-vehicle crash occurred at about 06:00 on the Phran Kratai–Wang Prachop road in Village 4, Ban Lan Krathing, Wang Khuang subdistrict, Phran Kratai district. The discovery of multiple smartphones has raised suspicions of links to transnational scam operations.

Police from Phran Kratai station, led by Pol Lt Col Anon Rueangwong, a senior investigator, attended the scene along with the Phran Kratai district chief Seksan Sarakan and rescue volunteers from the Sawang Kamphaeng Phet Thammasathan Foundation. The black Toyota Fortuner, registered in Bangkok, suffered severe damage to its front and right side after leaving the road and striking a tree. All three occupants were found trapped inside the wreckage.

The dead were identified as the driver, 57-year-old Thai national Phanthip Selamat, and two Chinese nationals whose identities had not been confirmed at the scene due to a lack of documents. No other vehicles were involved in the crash. The bodies were later sent to Phran Kratai Hospital for post-mortem examinations in line with legal procedures before relatives are notified.

During a search of the vehicle, officers found 23 smartphones packed inside shoulder bags. Police also recovered evidence indicating the devices had been separated by handset and phone number, with references linked to major overseas cities such as Miami and Texas in the United States. Investigators said the pattern of equipment and usage is consistent with methods associated with call centre scam or scammer networks.

Pol Capt Yodrak Rodpiree, deputy inspector of Kamphaeng Phet Immigration Police, said the vehicle had previously appeared on a watch list linked to the cross-border transport of foreign workers. In November 2025, the same vehicle was reported to have entered Kamphaeng Phet province before evading police monitoring. The fatal crash brought the vehicle back to official attention.

Khoasod reported that closed-circuit television footage from near the crash site shows the Fortuner travelling at what appeared to be a moderate speed before veering directly into the tree without any visible braking. Police have not yet determined whether mechanical failure or other factors were involved. Officers are now checking whether the registration plates are genuine or cloned and will analyse data from the seized phones to identify possible accomplices.

Key Takeaways

• A Toyota Fortuner crashed into a tree in Kamphaeng Phet on 22 January 2026, killing three people at the scene.

• Police found 23 mobile phones in the vehicle, with evidence suggesting links to scam call centre networks.

• The vehicle had previously been monitored in connection with suspected cross-border transport activities.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now from Khaosod 2026-01-23