AYUTTHAYA — Seven people were killed and another three injured when a van crashed into an 18-wheeler on a highway in Ayutthaya in the early hours of Saturday.
The accident took place at the U-turn between Km 37 and 38 on the Asia Highway in Bang Pahan district, at 3am, said Udomsak Khao-noo-na, a rescue worker at the scene.
The Toyota Commuter van with a Bangkok licence plate was found at the scene, with its front smashed into the concrete partition on the Bangkok-bound lane.
Seven people inside, five of gthem women, were dead, and the other three were injured. All were from Sukhothai province.
Three of the dead victims who have been identified were Tawatpong, the 38-year-old driver whose family name remains unknown; Kanchana Panpak, 25; and Lamai Makcharoen, 48.
There was no sign of the other vehicle involved in the crash at the scene except for a spare tyre for a heavy truck.
Kamlai Kongpuang, one of the survivors, said the passengers in the van were relatives. They were vendors at the Muang Sukhothai fresh market travelling to the capital to buy goods for sale.
After leaving Sukhothai at 10pm on Saturday, the van stopped at Phitsanulok to change tyres and take a break. After the stop, the passengers slept until the crash took place.
Police believe the driver might have sped to make up for lost time after the break. He then lost control of the van and slammed head-on into the rear of the 18-wheeler in front of it.
Police are looking for the driver of the truck.
The spot where the accident took place was already known as the 100-body U-turn among commuters due to its high fatal-accident record.