PRACHIN BURI - A 18-wheel trailer truck crashed and exploded in flames, killing one person and injuring three others, in a huge pileup involving about a dozen vehicles in Na Di district on Friday morning.
The crash occurred about 8.40am on a hilly section between kilometre makers 211 and 212 on Highway 304, the Na Di-Wang Nam Khieo route, in Na Di district of this eastern province.
It blocked the two-lane road in both directions and halted all traffic, which banked up for about 10 kilometres before the road was finally cleared.
The accident was caused by an 18-wheeler taking a cargo of tapioca flour from Nakhon Ratchasima to Prachin Buri, which ran into 22-wheeler loaded with sugar.
The tapioca truck, which was gas fuelled, exploded in flames and the driver Arthit Srithongchai, 39, was killed.
His wife Saisuda Srithongchai, 36, told police the truck had developed a problem with its brakes before the accident, Pol Capt Panakhan Rattananet, duty officer at Wang Khon Daeng police station in Na Di district, said. Her husband had slowed the vehicle and asked her to gather some stones and use them to block the rear wheels.
After she got out, the vehicle suddenly lurched forward and hit a 22-wheel truck carrying sugar. The gas tanks exploded and the two trucks were engulfed in flames, Pol Capt Panakhan said.
Eleven vehicles were entangled in the resulting pileup, trailer trucks, pickups and sedans - five vehicles going down the hill and six coming from the opposition direction.
Police called to the scene immediately closed both inbound and outbound lanes of the road.
Fire trucks spraying foam finally managed to put out the fire around 10.50am.
One person was confirmed to have died in the crash and conflagration and three others were hurt, Pol Capt Panakhan said.
(Photo by Manit Sanubboon)
(Photo by Manit Sanubboon)