GPS Error Traps Rice Truck in Railway Underpass in Korat

A truck trailer loaded with rice husks became stuck in a railway underpass in Nakhon Ratchasima's Bua Yai district on October 22 after the driver followed GPS navigation into the low-clearance passage. The incident at the Mochumit-Bypass intersection on the Jira-Khon Kaen railway line caused a major traffic jam for nearly an hour as the large vehicle could not proceed through the narrow, two-lane underpass and struggled to reverse out.

The driver, traveling from Surin province to a rice mill in Bua Yai for the first time, relied on GPS guidance and missed the poorly visible height restriction and warning signs. Upon entering the underpass, he discovered the clearance was lower than his vehicle's height. The underpass accommodates two-way traffic, further narrowing the passage and making it impossible for the articulated truck to pass.

The driver was visibly stressed, not only because the blockage inconvenienced locals and commuters but also because reversing the large trailer out of the narrow tunnel without damaging the structure took nearly an hour. Only motorcycles managed to squeeze through during the ordeal.

Area residents who regularly use this route are urging responsible agencies to urgently address the problem, specifically by installing large, highly visible warning signs, height restriction notices, and route guidance for heavy trucks. They also called for repairs to other problematic sections of the underpass to prevent future accidents, traffic disruptions, and damage to both vehicles and infrastructure.