Thirteen people, 11 tourists and two Thais, were injured when a public songtaew pickup truck was rammed from behind at a traffic light in Pattaya township, Chon Buri,in the early hours of Tuesday.
The songtaew was carrying 11 Russian tourists and was hit by a Chevrolet pickup truck while waiting at a traffic light at Chaiyapreuk intersection in tambon Nong Pheu of Bang Lamung district about 12.10am, Thai media reported on Tuesday.
The impact of the crash knocked the songtaew forward into a motorcycle, a motorised trishaw and two other cars also waiting at the traffic light.
Thirteen people were injured - the 11 tourists and two Thai passengers in the pickup truck - and were taken to hospitals. One Russian tourist sustained serious leg injuries. The driver of the Chevrolet pickup fled.
Pichai Kwanmuang, 56, the songtaew driver, told police that he was taking the tourists from downtown Pattaya to the Ambassador City Jomtien Hotel in Sattahip district when the accident occurred.
He said most of his passengers were thrown from the vehicle onto the road by the force of the collision
Witnesses told police that the Cheverolet pickup was speeding and cut in front of other vehicles before the driver lost control and ran into the parked songtaew.
Police were looking for the runaway driver.