HUA HIN: Eight family members, including two children, narrowly escaped death when their car burst into flames after being hit by a truck on a bypass road in Hua Hin on Saturday.
The accident took place near the turn-off leading to the Hua Hin Sam Phan Nam floating market at around 12.05pm, said police.
Fire trucks were deployed to the scene, where a white Ford Fiesta was engulfed in flames. Firefighters took more than one hour to put out the blaze. Traffic in the area was cleared at around 1.30pm.
Eight people -- two men, four women and two girls -- were injured and rushed to Hua Hin Hospital. They were Chaiyaphat Triphettra, 30; Ms Patthara Khoplop, 29; Ms Chonnapha Khophop 23; Mrs Wanphen Khophop, 58, Pornpisit Khamsaeng, 27; Ms Monthicha Khophop, 24; Neungthida Khamsaeng, 7; and Maneerat Wongsuwan, 3.
A police investigation found that the car had left downtown Hua Hin and was on its way to Wat Huay Mongkol. When it was about to pass the intersection leading to the floating market, a 10-wheel truck travelling on the bypass road arrived at the same time. The truck driver failed to apply brakes, causing the vehicle to hit the car.
The force of the crash caused the car to skid off the road and it suddenly burst into flames. All eight people inside the car managed to escape.
Flames consume a Ford Fiesta struck by a truck on the Hua Hin bypass road. (Photo by Sawang Hua Hin rescue foundation)
