Muang Phang Nga Police were notified of the accident this morning at about 6.30am and rushed to the scene, at the Ban Fai Tha intersection in Phang Nga’s Tum Naam Phud sub district, where fire fighters were already attempting to douse the flames.
At the source of the flames was a six-wheel petrol tanker with Surat Thani plates that had smashed into an electric pole on the side of the road.
The driver of the petrol tanker, who was named as 42-year-old Mr Pirapong Numwongto, had only narrowly escaped death, but suffered burns to his face, neck and chest as he escaped the blazing vehicle. He was taken to Phang Nga hospital for treatment.
On the opposite side of the road was another vehicle, a smashed-up four-wheeled Bronze coloured Chevrolet saloon car that had rolled off down the side of the road.
The driver of the car, who was named as 39-year-old Ms Wiwatanee Ouilui, the owner of an elephant trekking company in Noppring, suffered only minor injuries.
From the initial investigation, police believe that Ms Wiwatanee had cut in front of the petrol tanker, which then smashed into her car before swerving off and crashing into the electrical pole.
However, police will study available CCTV footage before apportioning blame.