A VAN carrying 14 Laotians rammed into a 10-wheel truck that had stopped at a red light in Klaeng district of Rayong province at 3 a.m. this morning (Jan. 26) killing three women from the neighbouring country, Sanook.com said.
A police team from Klaeng station together with Buddhist volunteers and Sawang Phon Charity Foundation rescuers rushed to the scene of the accident as the van had caught fire and some passengers were trapped within.
At the inbound side of Highway No. 344 they found the Bangkok-registered van parked at the rear of the 10-wheel truck, registered in Prachuap Khiri Khan, with the front smashed.
The rescuers used cutting equipment to bring out those trapped in the van and found that three Laotian women, in the group of 14 of them travelling together with a Thai man driving the vehicle, had died in the crash. The others who were injured were given first aid and rushed to the hospital
Some of the Laotians told police that the van had picked them up in Bangkok and was taking them to get their passports extended. However when they reached the red light at this intersection the driver, who appeared to be drowsy, slammed into the parked truck.
Police said the bodies of the three dead Laotian women were taken to Klaeng Hospital for autopsy. Further investigation of the crash for legal proceedings will resume after the injured passengers and driver feel better.