LAMPANG – A 26-year-old driver in a brand new car on a red plate with his family from Samut Prakan, drove off the road into the median ditch and slammed into a tree. Four people were hurt, and one later died at the hospital.
Police Sub-Lt. Udom Tanjai, an investigating officer at Ko Kha Police Station, received a report of a passenger car crashing into a tree in the median. The crash happened around kilometer marker 678 to 679 near Ban Na Kaew East, Moo 3, Na Saeng Subdistrict, Ko Kha District, Lampang.
At the scene, officers found a white Isuzu sedan with red temporary plates from Chonburi. The front end was heavily damaged, and the vehicle had come to rest in the median drainage ditch.
Police identified the driver as Wuttichai Phonsiri, 26. Three family members were riding with him: Phitthaya Phonsiri, 56, Phitthiya Phonsiri, 23, and Ruedee Phonsiri, 48.
According to initial questioning, the group left Samut Prakan and headed toward Chiang Rai. When they reached the crash site, the driver became sleepy, lost control, and the car skidded into the median ditch before hitting a tree at high speed.
Rescue workers rushed all four injured passengers to Ko Kha Hospital. Later, Phitthaya, 56, died at the hospital. The other three remain under medical care.
Police said they will continue investigating to confirm the exact cause. They also reminded drivers, especially those on long trips, to get enough rest to reduce the risk of drowsy driving accidents.
Drivers Falling Asleep in Thailand
Drowsy driving, including falling asleep at the wheel, remains a serious problem on Thailand’s roads. The country has one of the world’s highest road death rates, with thousands of lives lost each year. Fatigue and sleepiness play a major role in many crashes.
Recent updates from Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) and the World Health Organization (WHO) in Thailand point to the same concern. Based on police data, drowsy driving ranks as the third leading cause of road crashes nationwide.
Officials underlined this message during the launch of the “Don’t Drive Drowsy – Stay Awake, Stay Alive” campaign in December 2025, timed for the New Year travel rush.
The campaign warns that tired drivers make poor choices and react more slowly, much like someone who has been drinking. The difference is that fatigue is preventable with enough rest, better awareness, and medical fitness checks when needed.
Research and surveys, including older studies focused on commercial drivers, show the issue is widespread. For example, many bus and truck drivers report driving while sleepy or having microsleeps.
Excessive daytime sleepiness also affects a large share of drivers in these groups. Some analyses also link fatigue to much worse outcomes, with drowsy driving raising the risk of injury or death by about 2 to 3 times compared with crashes not tied to tiredness.
Recent Incidents
News stories in Thailand often report crashes where police suspect the driver nodded off. These cases frequently involve buses, trucks, vans, and private cars, especially on long trips and during late-night or early-morning hours.
- In June 2025, a tour bus crash on Phet Kasem Road killed 2 people and injured 13 after the driver fell asleep.
- In January 2026, a Malaysian-registered car in southern Thailand hit and killed a 75-year-old pedestrian. Police suspected the driver had fallen asleep after the dashcam video showed the car drifting.
- In April 2025, a 26-year-old delivery truck driver reportedly fell asleep and hit a street cleaner, causing a fatal injury.
- Similar reports include trucks slamming into barriers or oncoming traffic, tour buses leaving the roadway, and passenger vans going off paths, with fatigue named as a key factor.
These incidents come up often in tourist areas such as Pattaya and Phuket, as well as on major highways. Long-distance travel and shift work add to the risk.
Broader Context
Thailand records around 20,000 road deaths each year, which averages more than 50 per day. Speeding, drink-driving, and weak enforcement also rank among the top causes. During major holidays, including the New Year, “seven dangerous days,” officials increase roadside checks and safety messaging. Along with alcohol and speeding, they also focus on drowsy driving, while promoting rest stops and checkpoints.
In many cases, fatigueis connecteds to long work hours, which is common among commercial drivers. It also links to too little sleep (less than 7 hours), overnight driving, and health problems that reduce alertness.
To help reduce risk:
- Stop for a break every 2 hours, or sooner if you feel tired.
- Try not to drive between 1 AM and 5 AM, when alertness naturally drops.
- Get enough sleep, avoid alcohol or medicines that make you sleepy, and pull over if you start nodding off. A short stop beats a serious crash.
If you’re driving in Chiang Rai or planning a trip through northern Thailand, keep in mind that some studies link higher crash risk to sloped terrain and driver fatigue in northern areas. Stay rested, and stay alert.
