At 11:30pm, Kamala police were called to the scene of an accident where a truck had crashed on the Nayak bend at the top of Nakalay Hill. One man awas reported to have been killed and many injured.
Police arrived at the scene with rescue workers to find a six-wheeler truck had crashed into a canal with many people still lying injured close to the truck.
The truck had rolled 100 metres down a hill before smashing into an electricity pylon and coming to rest in the canal. All the passengers were thrown from the truck in the process police were told.
Two men died as a result of the accident with another seven people suffering severe injuries including broken legs and broken ribs. They were immediately taken to hospital for emergency treatment.
A further 26 people suffered minor injuries and were treated at the scene before being allowed home.
One of the dead, named only as Mu suffered head injuries and a broken neck. The second, named only as Nang, had suffered broken ribs and head injuries and died later a Patong hospital.
The six-wheeler truck, driven by Bang Paiwan, was transporting 40 Burmese workers employed by World Construction from a hotel construction site in Tritrang beach Patong back to their camp in Kamala.
Mr Bang told police that at around 10pm he picked up workers from the construction site and was taking them back to their camp.
“When we got close to the top of Nakalay Hill the road became more steep and curvy, the truck lost power and stopped. It then started to roll backwards down the hill and I was not able to control it.
“I stepped on the brake but it did not stop, instead it kept on rolling and got faster before it crashed into the pylon and the canal,” said Mr Bang.
Lt Col Somneig Damkham from Kamala police said that Mr Bang is likely to be charged with reckless driving causing death and injury to others once all the information is gathered and witnesses questioned.
“We want to know what caused the accident. Did the driver drive too fast or recklessly, or was the truck carrying a heavier load than maximum allowed. Mr Bang could face more charges if we find he was more to blame.
“In the past we have seen many tour buses and trucks roll and slide when they miss this bend causing death and injuries to foreign workers and tourists. This type of accident is preventable so drivers should be careful, follow the law and drive slower, especially as it is now monsoon season,” said Lt Col Somneig.
This is not the first accident this year where Burmese have been injured after being throwen from the trck they were travelling in. In April six Burmese were injured when the pick-up truck they were travelling in crashed into a roadside restaurant near the turnoff to Cape Yamu on the Pa Khlok road.
The driver of thet vehicle, Krisada Kanta, 36, from Chiang Mai admitted to driving too fast before losing control of the vehicle. (See story here)