Two Students Killed After Pickup Crashes into Scout Group

A 35 year-old man has been charged with reckless driving causing death, and illegal drug usage after crashing his pickup into a group of students killing two and wounding 13 in southern Thailand on Wednesday, .

Mr Wissanu Tongsai, 35, the son of a former politician told police that a motorcycle abruptly cut in front of his pickup, causing him to lose control and collide with the students at a  checkpoint, students and teachers, were conducting safety checks.

Police investigators did not accept his account of the tragic incident and conducted a drug test, which revealed a positive result for methamphetamine.

Mr. Muhammad Senmuli, the director of the School, which has 120student and 12 teachers, said the school had just completed its annual scout walk that day. Many of the pupils were resting at a nearby checkpoint, some 500 yards from the school and designated as a hiking stop.

He told police that the truck collided with a road barrier at high speed, propelling the vehicle into the drainage ditch before smashing into the checkpoint and killing two students and injuring 13 other.

The names of the two killed students were identified by police as Assananee Langputay and Suriya Jantra. Their bodies were delivered to their relatives for funerals. The 13 injured included Patcharee Intalay, a teacher in charge of the checkpoint. Six of the injured were said to be in critical condition.

Eight students and teachers are currently receiving treatment at Hat Yai Hospital. Two more are currently at Sadao Hospital, while three have been released.

According to Mr Muhammad, the school will compensate the families of each deceased students and those of injured students.

Truck Collides With School Van in Chiang Rai, Driver Killed, 15 Students Injured

Truck Collides With School Van in Chiang Rai, Driver Killed, 15 Students Injured