Huay Yai Police, Rescue Foundation units and medics from Banglamung Hospital and Bangkok Pattaya Hospital were dispatched to a major road accident only 100 meters away from Huay Yai police station. There were reports of multiple casualties.
At the scene they found a commuter van with the driver and 14 passengers embedded in the flat bed trailer of an 18 wheel lorry. Injuries varied from serious to minor. Rescue workers had to use cutting equipment and the jaws of life to extricate the driver Khun Surachai aged 51.
First aid was administered by medics at the scene and then the casualties were transported to The Queen Sirikit Hospital in Sattahip, Banglamung Hospital and Bangkok Pattaya Hospital. 4 passengers who had received only mimor injuries were treated but declined to be taken to hospital.
The driver said that he drove this route from Bangkok to Rayong regularly and on this occasion was taken by surprise that a truck was parked across the highway. It was dark he said and didn't see it in time and had no chance to brake or swerve to avoid a collision.
Passengers commented that the driver driving like a maniac at high speed was more than likely a contributing factor. As for the driver who parked his articulated lorry across the highway - well police are not surprisingly still trying to find him.
