Married Couple Dies After Truck Plunges Into River
A married couple from Nakhon Phanom died after their truck blew a tire, crossed lanes, and plunged into a river on Highway 212 near the Nong Saao curve on September 5. Rescue teams recovered their bodies and the vehicle after eight hours of
Nakhon Phanom — A married couple, both from Nong Saad Sub-district in Mueang District, Nakhon Phanom, died on September 6 after their 12-wheeled truck suffered a blowout, skidded across lanes, struck a bridge railing, and sank into the water below. The victims, a 56-year-old man and his 55-year-old wife, remained submerged for approximately 7-8 hours before rescue teams successfully recovered their bodies and vehicle.
The accident occurred at 9 p.m. on September 5 along Highway 212 in the Nong Saao area, Tha Kho Sub-district, Mueang District. Emergency responders, including rescue boats and crane operators, worked for eight hours to lift the truck from water depths of 2 meters at a steep 7-meter elevation, using 20-ton and 16-ton cranes. Nakhon Phanom Governor Adisak Noisevan coordinated the rescue operation.
Investigators determined the truck was returning empty from Vietnam after delivering fruit across the Third Thai-Laotian Friendship Bridge. As the couple drove home, just 3-4 kilometers away, the vehicle's front left tire blew out near the Nong Saao curve. The driver lost control, crossed lanes, struck the bridge railing, and plunged into the water. When the couple's daughter learned of the accident through social media and recognized her parents' truck, she collapsed in grief. After authorities recovered the bodies and vehicle, the family performed merit-making ceremonies according to tradition.
