KAMPHAENG PHET - A Myanmar woman was killed and four other people hurt when a passenger van ran off the road and hit a tree in the median ditch in Khanu Woralaksaburi district early on Friday morning.
The latest fatal accident involving public transport occurred at kilometre makers 392-393 on northbound Phahon Yothin Road in tambon Salokbat around 5.30am, said Pol Capt Bancha Sum-ngern, a duty-officer at Khanu Waralaksaburi police station.
Police and rescue workers found the crumpled van, which had Samut Sakhon licence plates, stopped head-on against a big tree in the ditch dividing the road.
One woman passenger from Myanmar was dead in the wreckage and three other passengers and the driver, Chatchawan Chanthamas, were injured and trapped in the vehicle. The injured were taken to a nearby hospital. Mr Chatchawan, 45, was badly hurt and could not give police a statement.
The van, belonging to Mittaparb Group Tour Co, was fueled by NGV gas contained in two cyclinders.
Thai media reported the van picked up four Myanmar passengers, three women and a man, from Samut Sakhon and was taking them to Tak’s Mae Sot district on the Myanmar border.
Police suspect the driver fell asleep at the wheel, but were still waiting to question him.