Police Lt Col Sanit Nookong was first called at 2:30am to investigate an accident where a pick-up truck had crashed into the back of a stationary 18-wheel truck about 200 metres from the Makro store on Thepkassattri Rd.
Police, Thalang Hospital EMS unit and Kusoldharm rescue workers arrived at the scene to find a Ford pick-up smashed into the back of the parked 18-wheeler. The driver of the pick-up, named as 38-year-old Thasapong Unsiam, was unconscious and trapped inside the vehicle.
Once removed from the vehicle he was immediately taken to Thalang Hospital where he was pronounced dead upon arrival.
The driver of the 18-wheel truck, Anurat Chomphoo, 40, told police that he had parked the truck on the roadside while he prepared to make a delivery to Makro. His hazard lights were turned on, but the pick-up slammed into the back of his truck.
Witnesses told police that the pick-up truck driver came at high speed and slid before crashing into the back of the truck.
“No one heard a braking sound prior to the crash so it is possible the driver fell asleep behind the wheel,” police were told by one witness.
Lt Col Sanit said, “The truck was parked off road, so if the driver was alert he would have been able to brake and avoid crashing, however, we found no skid marks on the road.
“We are now waiting for the doctor to check the deceased’s blood for alcohol and drugs to see if he was under any influences while driving.”
Lt Col and his team were then dispatched to another accident at 4:30am where another pick-up driver had crashed in front of the Baan Lipon Tangnamglass Co on Thepkasttri Rd.
A Toyota pick-up crashed into an electricity pylon and had taken out a road sign and wall in the process.
Police were told that a passenger in the pick-up was killed instantly while the driver had suffered minor injuries.
Lt Col Sanit and his team arrived at the scene with Kusoldharm rescue workers to find a wrecked Toyota pick-up smashed into the electricity pylon. Construction material were scattered around the wreckage.
Three metres away was the body of the passenger, Surin Rotlolsap, 33, lying in the road.
The driver, Chaowarit Srimuang, 34, told police that he was heading north on Thepkassttri Rd when he lost control of the vehicle before crashing into the pylon.
The impact of the crash threw Mr Surin from the truck and his body smashed into a road sign and then a wall.
Mr Chaowarit was taken to Thaklang Police Station for more questioning and is likely to be charged with reckless driving causing death.
The bodies of both victims were taken to Thalang Hospital.