One killed, 280 injured in train-truck crash

Nakhon Ratchasima - A Bangkok-bound train crashed into a ten-wheel truck in this northeastern province late Tuesday night, fatally injuring the train driver and slightly injuring 280 train passengers.

Pol Maj Pichet Jantharat of Muang district police station said the accident happened at 30 minutes past midnight.

He said the truck apparently crossed the train crossing while the train was speedily approaching it so he could not stop the train in time.

The train driver, Samphan Philakham, 55, died at the hospital.

The truck driver fled the scene.

Some 280 passengers suffered from bruises and received treatment at the provincial hospital and were allowed to resume their travel.

Officials took about four hours to salvage the damaged train engine.

Source: The Nation - 28 June 2006

My sympathies to the family of the victim and to the people injured.

I hope they do something in the near future to prevent these tragic accidents. There have been a lot of them recently. Thailand is becoming the "hub" of unfortunate and preventable accidents!