Driver Burns to Death After Fiery Crash in Chiang Rai

Authorities in Chiang Rai province’s Mae Sai district reported a man was burned to death after his vehicle burst into flames after crashing into a tree on Thursday morning. Police believe the fire started from a fuel leak caused by the crash.

According to police, at approximately 7 am rescue workers arrived on Phahonyothin Road to find a white Honda City crashed into a tree.

According to witnesses, the Honda City lost control at a curve and slammed into a traffic barrier before ricocheting off the road into a tree. Some witnesses said they heard the driver begging for rescue and saying, “Don’t leave me” before the vehicle burst into flames.

Before the rescue workers could help the vehicle burst into flames and they were forced to call firefighters to put out the fire. After the fire was extinguished the mans body was recovered and taken to Mae Sai Hospital for identification and postmortem.

Police report, Chiang Rai has had 15 traffic accidents since the Songkran holiday began on Tuesday, with 15 injuries and three fatalities.

Meanwhile, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) reported 63 road deaths over the first two days of Songkran holiday travel on Thursday.

On Thursday morning, DDPM Director-General Boontham Lertsukekasem announced that road accident figures from the first two days of this year’s holiday had been collected.

On Wednesday, 339 incidents were registered, resulting in 36 fatalities and 330 injuries, with speeding (41.3%) being the most common cause, followed by cutting in front of other vehicles (22.12%). Motorcycles were involved in the majority of the accidents (83.97%).

Surat Thani had the most traffic accidents, while Nakhon Si Thammarat and Surat Thani had the most injured travellers, both with 14. Six people were killed in Bangkok.

The total number of traffic fatalities on Songkran’s second day surpassed the preceding day’s tally of 27.

A total of 56,566 charges were made against 338,612 vehicles assessed by the nation’s 1,874 checkpoints, with offences ranging from not wearing a safety helmet to driving without a license.

According to Mr. Boontham, the most common risk conduct observed during the two days was the lack of a helmet (57.71%), followed by speeding (18.36%).

These findings have spurred officials to tighten road security, especially since authorities expect that more people will be using smaller roads now that Songkran festivities have begun.

Wildfire in Chiang Rai Prompts Hospital to Evacuate Patients

Wildfire in Chiang Rai Prompts Hospital to Evacuate Patients