NAKHON RATCHASIMA — One student was killed and more than 20 others injured, four seriously, when a truck they were travelling in was hit by a pickup as they returned from the Bike for Dad cycling event on Friday night.
The six-wheel truck carrying students and teachers from Talardsai Pitthayakhom School was hit by the pickup truck at the entrance to Lawor village on the Phimai-Chum Phuang Road in tambon Prasuk at about 8.30pm on Friday, said police.
The impact of the crash killed one student. Four of the 20 people hurt — including two students, a teacher and the pickup truck driver — sustained serious injuries. All were sent to Maharaj Hospital.
The truck, which was also carrying the group members' bicycles, was returning from Muang district, where the students and teachers had taken part in the nationwide cycling event held to honour His Majesty the King.
Narong Wunsiew, the deputy governor of Nakhon Ratchasima governor, visited the injured students and teachers at Maharaj Hospital on Saturday. He said most of those injured had been discharged.
However, the four who were seriously injured remained in hospital. They were students Sivakorn Sumasa and Varut Saenkhot, both 17, their teacher Thatsanee Uppamayant, 45, and pickup truck driver Kan Daenjaeng, 50. All were declared safe, said the deputy governor.
Provincial authorities would provide assistance to the family of the dead student, the injured students and teachers, he added.
The truck carrying students and teachers back from the Bike for Dad event lies overturned by the road in Chum Phuang district of Nakhon Ratchasima on Friday night. (Photo by Sawang Metra rescue foundation in Chum Phuang via Prasit Tangprasert)