Dozen hurt as truck rams kerbside stalls

BANGKOK: -- A 10-wheel truck that lost control on a slippery road, ripped through roadside food-stalls, leaving two people scalded by boiling water and others slightly injured, as well as damaging numerous vehicles, police said.

The incident occurred on Sukhumvit Road, just in front of the Petronas service station across from the approach to Phraekkasa Road, in Samut Prakan’s Muang district at about 1am yesterday.

The white Hino 10-wheeler, owned by Krung Thon Paper

Co Ltd, ended up on the pavement with the rear of the vehicle jutting out on to the road.

The front of the vehicle including windshield, front lights and indicators took the brunt of the damage.

Sot Phuprawin, 38, and Rampoei Sewana, 45, were scalded by boiling water. Around 10 diners were also injured.

A songthaew, travelling from Pak Nam to Wat Si Jan, was hit in the rear so hard it was sent into a timber yard, some 50 metres away.

Three Mercedes Benz sedans were damaged on impact some 20 metres away. Some of the victims reacted angrily to the accident and Boonhom Sombat, 43, driver of the 10-wheeler, was punched in the face by one member of the crowd.

Boonhom said he lost control of the truck because rain made the road very slippery, and that he had struggled in vain to steer the vehicle away from the roadside.

--The Nation 2005-07-06

Boonhom said he lost control of the truck because rain made the road very slippery, and that he had struggled in vain to steer the vehicle away from the roadside.

I see many of this type of accident every week.

In the majority of cases, the vehicle is unroadworthy... with nearly bald tyres or malfunctioning brakes and lights... and the driver is usually going too fast for the conditions.

If the government wants to get serious about minimising this type of accident, then they should introduce some kind of roadworthy checks at time of vehicle re-registration.

Might tea money be involved in the process ?