Truck crash kills 14 people in western Thailand

By: 11 years ago

BANGKOK — A six-wheeled truck crashed into a passenger truck on a dangerous mountain road in western Thailand on Wednesday, killing 14 people a month after a deadlier accident on the same stretch of road, authorities said.

The accident was the latest fatal crash on a mountain road in Tak province known for its treacherous dips and curves where more than 300 accidents occurred last year, said provincial governor Suriya Prasatbunditya. The road is frequented by buses and trucks traveling to and from the border with Myanmar.

The driver lost control while driving down the steep, winding road, before the truck hit three cars and slammed into a pickup truck carrying at least 10 passengers, he said. Both drivers, along with 12 passengers, were killed in the crash, while two people were injured.

The governor said the crash occurred 500 meters (546 yards) from where a double-decker bus carrying municipal workers plunged off the road into a ravine, killing 31 people, last month.

“This is yet another sad accident which shouldn’t have occurred,” Suriya told The Associated Press. “Since the major accident in March, we put up more warnings and rubber strips to help slow down road users, but that’s still not working.”

Road accidents are common in Thailand, where safety standards are poor and road rules are rarely enforced. Last year, more than 8,600 people died in accidents on Thai roads.