Sriracha, Chonburi, November 17th, 2025
A 10-wheel refrigerated truck suffered catastrophic brake failure while descending a steep hill on Monday morning, slamming into six oncoming and stationary vehicles before finally crashing into a high-voltage electricity pole. The driver was killed instantly, two motorcyclists were injured, and a major power line was brought down.
The accident occurred at approximately 8:30 a.m. on Pinthong 3 Road (heading toward Pinthong 4) in Moo 6 in Sri Racha.
Rescue teams from the Phew Yeang Thai Sriracha Foundation, police from Nong Kham Police Station, and medical staff from Somdej Phra Borommarajadevi Na Sriracha Hospital rushed to the scene.
At the site, rescuers found the 10-wheel truck lying on its side across the road, its front end crushed against a collapsed high-voltage electricity pole (115 kV). The driver, identified as Mr. Thanat Chai-ai, 45, was trapped inside the mangled cab.
It took two mobile cranes – one to stabilize the dangerously leaning pole and another to lift the truck – plus nearly an hour of hydraulic cutting tools before rescue workers could extract the body. Medical staff confirmed Mr. Thanat had died at the scene.
Six other vehicles were damaged in the chain-reaction collision:
– Two sedans
– Two pickup trucks
– Two motorcycles
Two people were injured:
– Ms. Montira Dee-wiang, 32, sustained abrasions across her body and a suspected fracture in her right leg.
– Mr. Weerapol Chai-nurak, 25, suffered abrasions and severe back pain with limited mobility.
Both were riding motorcycles and were taken to a local hospital for further treatment.
Eyewitness Mr. Wutthiphong Sarnphon, 40, who was driving a pickup truck with his girlfriend on their way to work, described the terrifying moment:
“I saw the truck coming down the hill extremely fast. It couldn’t stop and just plowed into the vehicles in front of it, then sideswiped cars coming the other way. I tried to swerve, but it still clipped the back of my pickup. Then it kept going, flipped over, and smashed into the power pole.”
Large amounts of diesel fuel leaked from the truck, forcing emergency crews to spray foam to prevent ignition or explosion while keeping bystanders at a safe distance.
The damaged electricity pole, valued at approximately 100,000 baht, required the Provincial Electricity Authority to cut power in the area before the wreckage could be safely removed.
Police are investigating the exact cause but preliminary reports point to brake failure as the truck descended the steep incline. Officers recorded the scene, interviewed witnesses, and arranged for cranes to clear the roadway.
The incident caused heavy traffic delays in the industrial Pinthong area throughout the morning.
