ROI ET — Seven people were killed when their pickup truck collided head on with a loaded trailer truck in Suwannaphum district on Monday morning.
The accident occurred at the entry to a bridge over the Siew River at Ban Moo 10 in tambon Sra Ku.
Police said five men and two women died in the accident, all travelling on a Si Sa Ket-registered Izusu pickup. Two of the victims were thrown from the vehicle. The only body identified was the driver, Jon Boonlaing, 35, after police found his driving licence on his seat.
Narongdej Deesoon, 25, the truck driver, was waiting at the accident scene when police arrived.
He told police he was delivering rocks to a construction materials store in Roi Et. He was crossing the bridge when a speeding pickup failed to negotiate the curve near the bridge, then skidded off the road and into his lane before ramming side-on into the front of his truck.
The impact was so powerful that the middle of the pickup was crumpled and wedged sideways up against the truck. Rescue workers had to use cutting tools to remove the bodies from the wreckage.
Mr Narong said he could not avoid the oncoming pickup because of the bridge railing. After the crash his truck dragged the wrecked Isuzu 15 metres along the road before coming to a halt.
Mr Narongdej initially faces a charge reckless driving causing death. Police, however, said they would question witnesses and further examine the evidence at the scene before deciding whether to pursue the charge.