Chachoengsao, Thailand – In a harrowing early morning incident on June 20, 2023, a ten-wheeler truck carrying empty rolls of paper veered off a level bridge, hurtling down to the ground below and obstructing the three-lane eastern railway near Chachoengsao Railway Junction Station. The driver, identified as Mr. Surasak, confessed to falling asleep at the wheel, leading to the disastrous plunge.
The accident took place at approximately 3:15 a.m., prompting Railway Police Officer, Police Capt. Paween Khemjaroon, to rush to the scene and launch an investigation. The incident occurred on the three-way bridge, located along Road 304 Suwinthawong before entering Maha Chakphat Road. The bridge curves towards Kasemrad Chachoengsao Hospital, intersecting with Route 314, Siri Sothon, in Na Mueang Subdistrict, Mueang District, Chachoengsao Province. The truck, bearing license plate number 70-9311 from Samut Sakhon, plummeted around 600 meters before reaching Chachoengsao Railway Junction Station.
The aftermath of the accident revealed a white truck concealed by a canvas cover. It appeared as though the vehicle had been flung from the bridge like a slingshot, crashing into a sign at the fork of the road intersection. The sign, marked with a blue circle slashed down the middle, indicated the presence of train tracks below, approximately 12 meters from the bridge. The impact of the fall caused the rolls of paper carried on the truck’s bed to scatter and obstruct three out of the four lanes on the railway.
The driver, Mr. Surasak, who was transporting the paper rolls from Kanchanaburi Province to Prachinburi Province, admitted that he had dozed off while behind the wheel. This momentary lapse in concentration led to the truck careening off the bridge, resulting in the injury of one passenger. Mr. Phuwanat Changduangjit, 23, was promptly transported to Kasemrad Hospital near the scene, but fortunately, he escaped any serious injuries.
Following the incident, authorities from Chachoengsao Junction Railway Station arrived at the site to assess the situation. They confirmed that the accident, which occurred at km 60/4, approximately 600 meters from the railway junction station, had not caused significant disruption to rail services. The rolls of paper were swiftly cleared from one lane on the southern route, allowing for the departure of a passenger train scheduled for around 5:20 a.m. However, the two remaining lanes remained blocked by the fallen ten-wheeler truck. The northernmost lane, however, remained accessible, permitting the passage of goods trains through the accident scene without major interruptions.
As the investigation continues, authorities will work to ensure the prompt removal of the truck and debris from the railway tracks, allowing for the full restoration of rail services.
