Pictures courtesy of SiamNews

A school transport pickup truck overturned in Yasothon province on 27 January 2026, killing one pupil and injuring 16 others, most of them primary school students. Emergency services confirmed that 17 children were involved, with two suffering serious injuries and a 12-year-old later dying in hospital. The crash occurred on Chao Sadet Road near Ban Na Si Nuan in Nong Ruea subdistrict, Mueang district.

The Yasothon Hospital emergency radio centre 1669 received the alert and coordinated nearby rescue teams to the scene. Responders found a Toyota Vigo pickup truck, registration number from Yasothon, overturned in a rice field after leaving the road. The vehicle had dropped from a roadside embankment nearly two metres high, coming to rest on its roof.

Children were thrown from the vehicle in different directions and were found injured and crying as they awaited help. Rescue workers provided first aid at the scene before transporting all casualties to Yasothon Hospital. Of the 17 injured pupils, two were reported to be in critical condition, while one 12-year-old later succumbed to injuries at the hospital.

Initial checks at the scene showed that the pickup had been modified with a rear canopy and two bench rows installed in the cargo bed. The vehicle was used daily to transport pupils from Na Samai subdistrict, Mueang Yasothon, to several schools within the Yasothon municipal area. The passengers included students from both primary and secondary levels attending different schools.

Authorities have not released further details on the cause of the crash or whether charges will be brought. The incident has highlighted ongoing concerns about the safety of modified pickup trucks used for school transport, particularly when children are seated in the rear without standard safety features.

Local emergency services and hospital staff continued to monitor the injured pupils following their admission. Investigators are expected to examine the vehicle modification, road conditions, and circumstances leading up to the crash as part of the inquiry.

Key Takeaways

• A modified school transport pickup overturned in Yasothon on 27 January 2026, killing one 12-year-old pupil and injuring 16 others.

• The crash occurred on Chao Sadet Road, with the vehicle falling nearly two metres into a rice field and ejecting students.

• All 17 pupils were taken to Yasothon Hospital, where two were seriously injured and one later died.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now from Siamnews 2026-01-29

 

 

You see them all the time, kids crammed in the back of picks ups, what chance have they got in an accident....... they're all ejected like skittles.

Same with school car parks and all the underage motorbike riders, what do they expect?