Three people were burned beyond recognition when a speeding Mercedes Benz veered off the road and slammed into an oncoming pickup truck before catching fire in Rayong on Saturday afternoon.
Two vehicles are engulfed in flames after the crash in Rayong on Saturday. (Photo by Jumphol Nikomruk)
The incident took place on Road No. 36 in tambon Map Kha in Map Ta Phut municipality at around 1.15pm, said police.
A grey Mercedes sedan and a Toyota Vigo pickup truck were engulfed in flames when police arrived at the scene. Flames spread quickly on the two vehicles that carried Chon Buri licence plates and loud explosions were heard.
Fire trucks were immediately deployed and firefighters managed to put out the fire shortly later. Two bodies of a man and a woman were found inside the Mercedes. They could not be identified as all documents were burned. Another man was also found burned in the pickup truck. His name cards were partly burned and he was identified as Sunan Panturat, manager of Prakai-ngern Co, a subsidiary of Nong Nooch Pattaya Garden and Resort.
Pol Lt Chanut Panthong of Nikhom Phatthana district police station in Rayong quoted witnesses as saying that the Mercedes Benz heading to downtown Rayong was coming from an elevated bridge near Map Kha intersection at high speed and suddenly veered off the road and crashed into the pickup truck. The impact of the crash caused the sedan to catch fire and flames spread quickly to the pickup truck.
Police believed the Mercedes Benz might be fuelled by gas.
An empoyee at Nong Nooch Garden and Resort said Mr Sunan was travelling to meet a customer in Rayong at the time of the crash.
Police and firefighters inspect the wreckage of a Mercedes and a pickup truck. (Photo by Jumphol Nikomruk)