Two people drowned while a third smashed a window and escaped alive when a car plunged from a ferry pier into the sea in Sattahip district in the early hours of Wednesday.

The incident happened at Chuk Samet ferry pier at Sattahip naval base at 1.56am.

Two women were trapped in the car, including the driver.  A male passenger made it to safety and raised the alarm. Police, divers and rescue workers rushed to the pier.

The car was found in water 15 metres deep. Divers retrieved the bodies of the two women.  A mobile crane later hauled the car from the sea. 

Survivor Raveeparb Maksara, 20, told police he and three women friends travelled in the car from Bangkok to visit Sattahip district. They dropped off one of the women in Samae Sarn area.

The woman driver then became lost, and in the dark they somehow arrived at the ferry pier. They were all arguing about being lost when the car ran off the pier and into the sea.

Mr Raveeparb said he managed to overcome his terror and used his feet to break a car window and escape.