Elderly Couple Crashes While Driving to Hospital Appointment
A 74-year-old driver and his wife crashed their sedan on Phatthalung's Asian Highway while heading to a hospital appointment in Hat Yai early Tuesday morning. Both were injured but conscious and extracted from the overturned vehicle by resc
At 5:53 a.m. on August 20, 2024, Auxiliary Police Captain Panuawat Uannamit of Muang Phatthalung Police, together with rescue personnel from Tha Khae Subdistrict Municipality, responded to a single-vehicle crash on the Asian Highway near a petrol station curve in Muang district, Phatthalung province. A Bangkok-registered Honda sedan had lost control, struck the median, flipped upside down, and skidded approximately 50 metres before coming to rest. The driver and his wife, both injured and trapped inside, were extracted by emergency staff and residents and transported to Phatthalung Hospital.
The driver, identified as Cham (surname withheld), 74, sustained body soreness and bruising but remained conscious and able to speak normally. His wife also suffered injuries. Initial questioning revealed the couple had departed Trang province to receive treatment at Songkhla Nakharin Hospital in Hat Yai under doctor's orders when the crash occurred.
Villagehead Wasant Thongtong, who rushed to the scene after learning of the accident, coordinated the rescue response immediately. He noted that the location is a frequent accident site, particularly during nighttime and rainy conditions, because of its sharp curve and U-turn zone. He urged road users to exercise caution, especially during late hours and wet weather.
