Fuel Spilt In Phuket Crash

[george]

Fuel spilt in Phuket crash

PHUKET - An oil tanker carrying 12,000 litres of oil crashed into a wall surrounding the well-known Two Heroines monument in Thalang district early yesterday morning, spilling petrol and diesel onto the road.

Pol Lt-Colonel Jamroon Playduang, an inspector at Thalang district police station, said petrol and diesel seeped from the overturned truck after it crashed at 12.30am.

A section of the road was closed for six hours while the oil was transferred to another tanker. Police managed to prevent an explosion by keeping vehicles away from the spilled petrol and diesel.

The truck driver, Wanchai Sroynak, 46, was seriously injured. His assistant Wisanu Kaewnaijit 28, suffered minor injuries.

Police said tire marks on the road showed that the driver braked heavily before crashing into the wall. They believe he may have fallen asleep at the wheel.

Locals said the spirits of the local heroines, Thao Thepkasatree and Thao Srisunthorn, helped prevent an explosion, which could have caused serious damage to the neighbourhood.

--The Nation 2003-12-08