SONGKHLA: A Cambodian woman was killed and 11 other migrant workers and the driver hurt when their passenger van rear-ended a parked water truck in Bang Klam district on Tuesday morning.
The crash occurred on Hat Yai-bound Ratthaphum-Hat Yai Road in tambon Tha Chang of Bang Kham district and was reported about 7.30am, Pol Lt Paripat Sinsuebphon, a duty officer at Bang Klam, said.
Police arriving at the scene found a crash-damaged passenger van with Phatthalung licence plates. One woman passenger, a Cambodian national, was dead inside the van and 12 other people, including the driver, were injured, one seriously. They were rushed to Bang Klam and Hat Yai hospitals, Thai media reported.
A 10-wheel water truck with Surat Thani licence plates was parked nearby, its right rear slightly damaged. Truck driver Pongsakorn Chanthorn was unhurt and waiting for police at the scene.
Mr Pongsakorn told police he was sleeping in the truck, parked on the side of the road, and was woken by a loud crash at back. He checked and found a passenger van had rear-ended his truck. He saw many passengers injured and rushed to help.
The injured van driver, Watcharin Phakhama, 53, told police he was taking 12 Cambodian migrant workers, all legally registered, from Aranyaprathet border district of Sa Kaeo province to a seafood factory in Muang district of Songkhla.
He was travelling on the left and tried to change lanes to avoid the parked truck when he saw it, but the road was slippery due to heavy rain and the van ran crashed into it.
Police were investigating.