In the first incident, Lt Col Sanit Nookong from Thalang Police was notified that a minivan had crashed into the back of the 18-wheeler truck on Thepkassattri Rd northbound at 3:20am. The accident happened about 200 metres from the Saladang junction in Srisoothorn.
Kusoldharm rescue workers, who were already at the scene, reported that they were trying to remove the driver who was trapped inside.
Police arrived to find a wrecked Toyota minivan in the middle of the road with rescue workers administering CPR to the driver as they tried to remove him from the wreckage.
It took rescue workers 40 minutes to free the man, named as Nate Sangpayap 35,from Chalong.
Mr Nate was eventually removed from the vehicle and taken to Thalang Hospital where he was pronounced dead upon arrival.
“About 100 metres from the wreckage was an 18-wheeler truck parked at the side of the road its hazard lights still on. There was damage to the rear of the vehicle,” said Lt Col Sanit.
The truck driver, Supamit Chunseng, 48, was at the scene.
Lt Col Sanit added, “Witnesses said that the minivan was heading to make a pick up at the airport. It was travelling at high speed and being driven recklessly from left to right as it passed the Thalang junction and then slammed into the back of the 18-wheeler truck.
“We assume the driver fell asleep and this is why the accident happened. However, we still have to question the truck driver and gather more information before we can conclude our investigation,” he said.
Both vehicles involved in the accident were towed to Thalang Police Station.
The second death occurred in Mai Khao when a pickup truck carrying fresh shrimps crashed into a pylon on Thepkassattri Rd southbound.
Lt Suthee Chatsuwan from Tha Chatchai Police, who was informed of the accident at 4:15am, was told that the driver of the pickup had been killed instantly and that the accident had caused a power outage in the area.
Police arrived to the scene with Kusoldharm rescue workers to find a wrecked Isuzu pickup with Surat Thani licence plates smashed into the pylon.
Rescue workers used jaws of life to free the body of 24 year old Nattawut Samutwaree from the wreckage before taking his body to Thalang Hospital.
“We were told that the driver missed the bend [Kong Ha Roi] and lost control of his vehicle before crashing and taking out the pylon,” said Lt Suthee.