Mum killed, son hurt in train-car crash at unmanned crossing

UDON THANI - A 47-year-old woman was killed and her son injured when a Bangkok-bound air-conditioned diesel train slammed into their car at an accident-prone, unmanned railway crossing in Muang district of this northeastern province on Monday night.

The crash happened at the crossing at Dong Kheng railway station in tambon Nong Khonkwang around 7pm on Monday, according to Rom Phothong radio station.

The car's driver, identified later as Panitta Junlao, 47, a sales agent at AIA life insurance, was found dead inside her Honda City car, which has an Udon Thani licence plate.

The vehicle was tossed 50 metres from the crossing by the force of the impact. Panitta's 7-year-old son Pattharathorn Boonchan was found injured inside the wrecked car and rushed to a nearby hospital, said Pol Col Phumwit Vetkaman, superintendent at Muang police station.

The train, airconditioned passenger service No.78 with four carriages full of passengers, had stopped nearby. It was still on the tracks.

The driver, Passakorn Piyapong, told police the Bangkok-bound train left Udon Thani railway station at 6.15pm. As he approached the crossing he saw the car travelling slowly from the right towards the tracks, as if it was going to stop. But it did not stop and crashed into the front section of the train as it went through the crossing.

The force of the crash caused the sedan to flip over several several times before coming to a stop nearby.

Police said Ms Panitta and her son were on the way to their new house at a nearby housing estate in tambon Nong Khonkwang when the accident occurred. There were no barriers at the crossing and the lights were dim.

During the recent New Year holiday there were three train-car crashes at this same crossing, killing five people.