A ten-wheeled truck turned abruptly across the path of a school van in Lopburi on the morning of 7 April 2026, leaving 18 people injured, most of them students. The crash occurred at around 07:45 near a slaughterhouse on Road 3333 in Khok Tum subdistrict, Mueang district. Emergency responders found the white Toyota van severely damaged at the front, with several students trapped inside.

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Police Lieutenant Kittisak Suwannasri, deputy investigator at Khok Tum Police Station, attended the scene along with volunteers from the Ruamkatanyu Foundation in Lopburi. The injured were transported to Phra Narai Maharaj Hospital and Ananthamahidol Hospital, while some parents took victims to a nearby private hospital. The truck involved, a white Hino registered in Saraburi, was found parked by the roadside.

CCTV footage from a nearby shop showed the truck travelling from Khok Tum roundabout towards Nong Sao intersection before suddenly making a U-turn across the road. The school van, following behind, was unable to brake in time and collided heavily with the truck. The impact caused multiple injuries among the students inside the van.

Pictures courtesy of Naewna

The truck driver, identified as 61-year-old Prasarn Salungyai, was taken in for questioning. Initial urine tests found no evidence of drug use. Authorities are continuing their investigation to determine the full circumstances and any legal responsibility.

Lopburi Governor Weerapong Ritrod visited injured students at both hospitals after being informed of the incident. Many parents gathered at the hospitals to remain close to their children as they received treatment. Officials are monitoring the condition of those injured and coordinating support for families.

Naewna reported that the investigation remains ongoing, with police reviewing CCTV evidence and witness statements. Further legal action will depend on the outcome of the inquiry, while local authorities continue to assess road safety measures in the area.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now Naewna 8 Apr 2026

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They are irresponsible taking care of children. Such a van is normally built for a maximum of 14 people.

9 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

They are irresponsible taking care of children. Such a van is normally built for a maximum of 14 people.

But profit comes before safety in the Land of Smiles.

Based in this video, the van driver was going too fast. There might be extenuating circumstances shown by a different camera angle, but I doubt it!

I agree with Callmeishmael that the van driver was going too fast! The CCTV and photos make it painfully clear why Thailand’s roads remain among the most dangerous in the world.

The truck driver cutting straight across traffic from a side road is bad enough, but the school van was also travelling far too fast for a built‑up area.

This is exactly the problem: it’s rarely just one driver at fault. It’s the overall Thai attitude on the roads, impatience, sudden manoeuvres, speeding, and a complete lack of anticipation that turns everyday situations into serious accidents.

When even a school van, carrying children, is being driven at a speed that leaves no margin for error, something is fundamentally wrong. And when a truck feels free to swing across a lane without checking for oncoming vehicles, it shows how normalised risky behaviour has become!

Both drivers made dangerous decisions, and the students are the ones who suffered for it.