NAN, Thailand – A devastating road accident in Northern Thailand has left five people dead and 14 others injured after a pickup truck lost control on a notorious curve in Nan Province. The incident occurred late yesterday afternoon, sparking an immediate response from local emergency services and highlighting ongoing concerns regarding road safety in mountainous regions.
At approximately 5:55 PM, local authorities at the Pua Police Station received a high-priority alert from the Nan 191 Radio Center. A pickup truck, modified with a steel rack for transporting passengers, had veered off the road at the Huai Yen curve near Ban Na Lae in the Sila Laeng sub-district.
According to Manager Online, the vehicle failed to navigate the sharp turn, leading to a violent crash that scattered passengers across the roadside. Police Colonel Boonsong Nikornthuan and a team of officers arrived at the scene shortly after to find a chaotic situation involving nearly 20 victims.
Emergency Response and Casualties
Rescue teams from the Somdej Phra Yuparaj Pua Hospital, along with local municipal emergency units from Pua and Sila Laeng, worked frantically to provide first aid. The scene was grim, with investigators confirming the following:
- Fatalities: Five individuals were pronounced dead at the scene due to the severity of the impact.
- Injuries: 14 passengers sustained injuries ranging from moderate to critical.
- Evacuation: All survivors were rushed to Somdej Phra Yuparaj Pua Hospital for urgent medical treatment.
The pickup truck involved was a standard model fitted with a “kork” (a steel cage often used for agricultural transport or carrying large groups of laborers). These modifications often raise safety concerns when vehicles are driven at high speeds or heavily loaded on winding roads.
Preliminary reports suggest that the driver may have been unfamiliar with the steep, winding terrain or was traveling at a speed that made the Huai Yen curve impossible to manage. This specific stretch of road is known among locals for being particularly dangerous, especially during the late afternoon when visibility can begin to shift.
Local police are currently interviewing witnesses and survivors to determine the exact cause of the accident. They are also looking into whether the vehicle was overloaded, which is a common factor in similar tragedies involving passenger pickups in rural Thailand.
Authorities continue to urge drivers to use extreme caution, check their brake systems before entering mountainous areas, and strictly adhere to speed limits. For those traveling in Nan, staying alert and respecting the local geography is essential to preventing further loss of life.
The families of the deceased are currently being contacted by local officials. Meanwhile, hospital staff are working around the clock to stabilize the 14 injured survivors. Updates on their conditions are expected to be released as the investigation into this tragic event continues.
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