Pattaya, Thailand – A traffic accident occurred in the early hours of September 26th, 2025, at 1:06 AM, when an 18-wheeler truck carrying rubber lost control, crossed a median, collided with a road sign, and overturned on Highway 331 (Sattahip-Khao Hin Son) in Khao Mai Kaew. The crash resulted in one fatality and one serious injury, with a chain reaction collision involving three additional vehicles.
Emergency services from the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Rescue Unit in Pattaya responded, coordinating with Huay Yai Police Station officers and deploying volunteer rescue teams to the scene. Upon arrival, they found an 18-wheeler truck, registered in Nakhon Si Thammarat, which had veered across the median, struck a guardrail, and crashed into a road sign support before flipping over. The trailer crushed the truck’s cab, trapping the occupants.
Inside the wreckage, rescuers discovered the body of Ms. Kanyarat Othongkham, 25, who was pronounced dead at the scene. The unidentified male driver, estimated to be between 30 and 50 years old, was found severely injured with his head pinned under rubber blocks. Debris from the truck, including spare parts, was scattered across the road, and the guardrail and road sign were heavily damaged.
Nearby, a bronze Isuzu D-Max pickup truck driven by Navy Lieutenant Prasarn Saokaew, 49, had collided with debris from the 18-wheeler, causing it to overturn. Lt. Prasarn and his son sustained minor injuries. Two other vehicles—a bronze employee shuttle van operated by Ploy Phraethong Transport Co., Ltd driven by Mr. Chatchai Aranyik, 66, and a white Toyota Alphard van sustained minor damage, with their occupants also reporting minor injuries.
Mr. Chatchai, the shuttle van driver, told The Pattaya News that he noticed the 18-wheeler’s turn signal flashing as if it was about to turn, but instead, it suddenly crossed the median, collided with the road sign, and overturned, triggering the collisions. Lt. Prasarn, the pickup truck driver, explained that the darkness obscured the crashed truck ahead, and by the time he realized the situation, he could not brake in time, hitting debris and losing control.
The dark road conditions contributed to the chain reaction crash. Authorities are investigating the cause of the initial loss of control by the 18-wheeler. The incident has raised concerns about road safety and visibility on this stretch of Highway 331.
