Kerry driver killed in truck-train crash

Kerry driver killed in truck-train crash

Pickup struck by train at unmanned rail crossing in Ban Pong, Ratchaburi

A Kerry Express delivery pickup truck is badly damaged after being struck at an unmanned railway crossing by a Kanchanaburi-bound train in Ban Pong district of Ratchaburi on Saturday. (Photo by Saichon Srinuanchan)
A Kerry Express delivery pickup truck is badly damaged after being struck at an unmanned railway crossing by a Kanchanaburi-bound train in Ban Pong district of Ratchaburi on Saturday. (Photo by Saichon Srinuanchan)

RATCHABURI: A Kerry Express delivery driver was killed when his pickup truck went through an unmanned railway crossing into the path of a train in Ban Pong district on Saturday morning.

The crash happened at the Ban Thaiyai crossing in tambon Tha Pha at 10.20am on Saturday, said Pol Lt Col Kriangsak Buaphor, a duty officer at the Ban Pong police station.

Police and rescue workers who risked to the scene found the Kerry Express orange pickup truck with Bangkok licence plates in the grass beside the railway track.

The driver’s side of the pickup truck was crushed and the windscreen broken. The driver, identified later as Jirawat Raknitwet, 37, suffered serious head injuries and died later at Ban Pong Hospital.

Police said the employee of Kerry Express Co was on the way to deliver goods to customers in nearby villages. His pickup truck reached the crossing at Ban Thayai village at the same time as the train, heading from Thon Buri to Nam Tok station in Kanchanaburi, was approaching. The train sounded its horn, but the pickup went through the crossing and was hit.

The force of the crash threw the pickup truck about 200 metres.

Local residents who witnessed the incident told police that they saw the pickup travelling at high speed before going through the crossing. They said they kept shouting to warn the driver that the train was approaching, but he did not hear.

A police officer inspects the scene of the train-pickup crash in Ban Pong district of Ratchaburi. (Photo by Saichon Srinuanchan)

Do you like the content of this article?
COMMENT (16)