Truck crash: Phuket power pole snapped in half

The damaged truck at 9 o'clock this morning.

Mr Cha-oum (left) and his relief driver, who got a rude awakening early this morning.

PHUKET: -- Two truck drivers emerged unscathed after a high-speed collision that snapped a power pole in two early this morning.

The accident took place on Thepkrassatri Road southbound, in front of the Honda Marine showroom in Koh Kaew.

The driver, who identified himself only as “Cha-oum”, said he slammed into the pole at about 3:30am.

Mr Cha-oum said he had dozed off at the wheel because he hadn’t had enough sleep. He said he was in a rush to deliver the truck’s cargo, small containers of Meiji brand yogurt drink, before it spoiled.

He had been driving the truck from Saraburi province since 5am Monday morning, making deliveries along the way to Phuket, he said.

Both he and the other driver, who was asleep in the back of the cab at the time, were uninjured.

The accident caused a brief power supply disruption in the area, he said.

The 10-wheel truck, belonging to the C. H. Transport company, was heavily damaged in the accident.

In a remarkably upbeat mood despite the accident, Mr Cha-oum said he had already called his employer to report the accident and was not unduly worried about the smash because the vehicle was insured.

-- Phuket Gazette 2010-07-27

So he needs more than 12h of sleep per day?

or the relief-driver acts as the loader/unloader and does infact not get to sleep much at all?

So did the yoghurt get spoiled?

I guess having people drive all night is cheaper than buying a refrigerated truck. No wonder milk spoils quickly...

I guess having people drive all night is cheaper than buying a refrigerated truck. No wonder milk spoils quickly...

Didn't you notice the refrigeration unit on the truck.....It was refrigerated, but the next question is, was the refrigerator working?

I guess having people drive all night is cheaper than buying a refrigerated truck. No wonder milk spoils quickly...

Didn't you notice the refrigeration unit on the truck.....It was refrigerated, but the next question is, was the refrigerator working?

It's hard to tell from the photo. But why would they be in a hurry to deliver the product at night if the truck was indeed refrigerated? I guess to save money to fuel the unit. Penny wise and pound foolish? Ah, but the truck was insured! No problem. I'm sure their insurance premium won't increase after totaling a pretty new looking truck...