NAKHON RATCHASIMA – Two people were killed and twelve others injured when a chartered passenger van crashed on a notoriously sharp bend in Wang Nam Khiao district on January 5. The vehicle veered off the road and overturned on Route 304, prompting a large-scale emergency response.

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The accident occurred on the Ratchasima–Kabin Buri Road, at the forestry curve near the Sakaerat Environmental Research Station in Udom Sap sub-district. A severely damaged white van was found overturned beside the road. Two female passengers were pronounced dead at the scene, while the remaining twelve injured individuals were given urgent first aid before being transported to Wang Nam Khiao Hospital and nearby medical facilities.

Police confirmed the van had been chartered to carry fourteen passengers from Chon Buri province to Nakhon Ratchasima for tourism during the New Year holiday. The crash site is a downhill section with a sharp curve, long recognized as a high-risk zone for traffic accidents.

Pol Colonel Sommai Phisutsethseri, superintendent of Udom Sap Police Station, stated that preliminary investigations suggest the driver likely fell asleep at the wheel due to exhaustion. The long-distance journey during the busy holiday period is believed to have contributed to the loss of control, causing the van to leave the road and roll down an embankment.

Rescue volunteers from Hook 31 units in Wang Nam Khiao and Pak Thong Chai assisted police and medical personnel at the scene. Authorities have reiterated the importance of road safety, especially for commercial and chartered vehicles operating during peak travel seasons. The incident has renewed concerns over driver fatigue, vehicle safety standards, and the dangers of mountainous routes such as Route 304.

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Police have confirmed that a full investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the crash, including an examination of the vehicle’s condition and interviews with witnesses. Further safety or legal measures will be considered once the investigation is complete.

-Thailand News (TN)