NAKHON RATCHASIMA — Two people died and two others were injured after an 18-wheel truck hit three vehicles on Mittraphap Road in Nakhon Ratchasima in the early hours of Saturday.
Police were called to the scene of the four-vehicle crash at 3.25am on Saturday. It took place on an outbound lane of Mittraphap Road between kilometre markers 185 and 186, said Pol Lt Col Thongdee Kotprathum, an investigator at the Non Sung police station in the northeastern province.
The 18-wheeler struck a Bangkok-Sakhon Nakhon commuter bus, a Toyota van, and a tour bus belonging to Smarn Tour Co Ltd.
Two passengers on the tour bus — Supakit Koomsap, 47, from Samut Songkhram, and Methee Suparatkanon, 15, from Kanchanaburi — were taken to Non Sung Hospital where they died. Uthai Choomduangjai, 76, and Wanna Kongjai, 45, both from Kanchanaburi, were injured and are in stable condition.
Police also heard a cry for help from inside the truck. It took them 45 minutes to extract driver Wutthikorn Tansombat, 51, of Udon Thani, who was slightly injured.
Pol Lt Col Thongdee said the accident took place as the tour bus from Kanchanaburi, bound for Ubon Ratchathani, attempted to slow down after the commuter bus in front of it reduced speed. The steel-laden truck following behind could not stop in time and hit the tour bus and two other vehicles.
Mr Wutthikorn was charged with careless driving, causing death and injuries to others.