Three Myanmar workers burned to death in crash

Three Myanmar workers burned to death in crash

Rescue volunteers spray water on the charred wreckage of a van so they can retrieve the bodies of three Myanmar nationals trapped inside following a crash with a trailer truck in Sing Buri province early Saturday. (Photo taken from Sing Buri-based Ruamkatanyu rescue team via @ThaiRescueNews Facebook page)
Rescue volunteers spray water on the charred wreckage of a van so they can retrieve the bodies of three Myanmar nationals trapped inside following a crash with a trailer truck in Sing Buri province early Saturday. (Photo taken from Sing Buri-based Ruamkatanyu rescue team via @ThaiRescueNews Facebook page)

SING BURI: Three Myanmar migrant workers were burned to death and eight others injured when a van they were travelling in caught fire after hitting a trailer truck in Phrom Buri district in the early hours of Saturday.

The fatal crash occurred at kilometre maker 77 on the Asia Highway 32 in tambon Ban Paeng, said Pol Col Phuriwat Piluek, a duty officer at Phrom Buri police station.

Police and rescue workers rushing to the scene after being alerted at around 3.30am found the charred wreckage of a van bearing a Bangkok licence plate some 100 metres from an 18-wheel trailer truck with a Sing Buri licence plate on the road. 

Three passengers were burned beyond recognition and trapped in the wreckage of the van. They were Myanmar nationals -- one man and two women, Thai media reported.

Eight other Myanmar passengers, five of whom were men, were hurt and rushed to Phrom Buri Hospital.

Suranart Chansong, 34, told police that while he was driving the truck loaded with gypsum, the van travelling at a high speed suddenly rammed into the right side of his truck. 

The force of the crash caused the van’s door to come off and all passengers on board were thrown out of the vehicle, said Mr Suranart, adding he stopped his truck and rushed to help them.

Ronnakorn Tonrap, the van driver, said the Myanmar migrant workers took his van from Bangkok to Chiang Rai. Some wanted to renew their visas while others were returning home.

When his van arrived at the spot, the trailer truck travelling ahead of his vehicle suddenly changed lanes and he was unable to avoid the crash, claimed the van driver.  

The door on the passenger side hit the truck, causing it to fall down. The passengers were thrown out of the vehicle. The front right wheel dislodged before the van engulfed in flames, said Mr Ronnakorn.

He immediately left the van but was unable to rescue the three passengers as they were crushed and the fire spread quickly, said the driver.  

Police took the two drivers to the police station for further interrogation. They were asked to undergo alcohol blood tests. The officers were investigating to find the cause of the crash.


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