Maj Sawanya Eidtrong of the Thung Thong Police arrived at the crash site, on the road behind Loch Palm Golf Club in Kathu, at 5:45pm.
Frantic tourists were gathered around the ditch where a Toyota van was lying on its side.
Kusoldharm Foundation rescue workers administered first aid to two of the Malaysian passengers, who suffered scrapes and bruises. The other three passengers were unharmed.
“As all five insisted on continuing their journey to the airport to make sure they did not miss their flight, so the van company arranged for another van to take them to the airport,” Maj Sawanya said.
Van driver Manit Rattanapan, 46, told police that he picked up the tourists from Patong and was heading to the airport when he lost control of the vehicle due to water on a bend in the road.
“I missed the bend, the van slid and flipped onto its side beside the road,” he explained.
Manit was taken to Thung Thong Police Station where he was charged with reckless driving.