Pickup Truck Skids in Rain, Hits Power Pole; Fuel Tanker and Tour Bus Swerve Off Road—35 Injured
A pickup truck skidded in heavy rain and hit a power pole on Highway 304 in Nakhon Ratchasima, triggering a chain-reaction crash involving a fuel tanker and tour bus that left 35 people injured on May 12.
A pickup truck skidded in heavy rain and crashed into a power pole on Highway 304 (Nakhon Ratchasima-Kabinburi route) at kilometer 245+400 on May 12, 2026, at 2:00 PM. The impact caused a fuel tanker following behind to brake suddenly, which in turn caused an Ubon Ratchathani-Pattaya air-conditioned tour bus traveling behind it to rear-end the tanker and careen off the roadside, colliding with a roadside shop.
Rescue volunteers from Nakhon Ratchasima's Unit 31 and police worked together to assist the injured. They evacuated ambulatory passengers first using the emergency rear door, then transported the severely injured from inside the bus and pickup truck—totaling 35 injured persons—to Wang Nam Khiao and Pakthongchai hospitals. Five patients were admitted for observation.
One driver, identified as Sunthon, was trapped under the collapsed roof of the tour bus and required over 40 minutes of cutting and prying with mechanical tools to be freed.
Investigators determined that the initial cause was the slippery road surface from rain, which caused the pickup truck to lose control and hit the power pole and traffic sign. The sudden braking of the fuel tanker triggered a chain reaction collision. Authorities are continuing their investigation by interviewing witnesses and gathering evidence.
