Witnesses told police that the warning light had been erected to warn drivers that a ceremony was underway at the Kathu Chinese shrine, so that they would be careful when passing the shrine.
But the pick-up driver, Salee Pholdee from Nakhon Sri Thammarat, was driving very fast and swerved to avoid the warning light, losing control.
Mr Salee told police that he thought the warning was for a traffic police checkpoint.
He received head injuries in the crash, for which he was treated at Vachira Phuket Hospital. No one else was hurt.
Police are waiting for him to be released before charging him with traffic offences.