Sleepy Driver Crashes Van Into Tree At 143 kph
A drowsy driver crashed his van into a tree on Phahon Yothin Road in Lamphun at 143 kph, suffering serious chest injuries; police suspect he fell asleep at the wheel.
At 3:10 p.m. on September 9, 2026, Ko Kha Police Station received a report of a van that had lost control and struck a tree on Phahon Yothin Road, kilometer 667, in the Ko Kha district of Lamphun Province. Emergency and medical services were dispatched to the scene.
At the crash site, a white Toyota van registered in Samut Sakhon was found with its front end heavily damaged after hitting a tree in the road's central median. Seats inside were scattered from the impact. The driver, a man in his 40s, was found lying beside the vehicle with serious chest injuries and was disoriented and unable to communicate clearly. Rescue personnel provided first aid and transported him to Ko Kha Hospital for treatment.
Police determined that prior to the crash, highway officers operating a speed checkpoint about 1 kilometer away had detected the van traveling at 143 kilometers per hour. However, the vehicle did not pass through their checkpoint. Instead, it soon crashed into the tree. Investigators suspect the driver may have fallen asleep while driving at high speed, causing him to lose control. A full investigation is underway to establish the precise cause of the accident.
