Trailer Truck Plows Into Vendors in Prachin Buri, Three Dead
A runaway trailer truck crashed into parked vehicles and roadside vendors on Highway 33 in Prachin Buri's Prachantakham district, killing three people and injuring eight others. The collision sparked a fire that destroyed 11 vehicles and downed a high-voltage power pole, causing a widespread blackout. Authorities suspect brake failure and have reopened one lane while investigating.
At 13:50 on November 13, 2026, Police Lieutenant Serri Suwanphet, Deputy Inspector (Investigation) of Prachantakham Police Station, Prachin Buri Province, was notified of an accident involving a container trailer truck that lost control and crashed into vehicles parked along the roadside, causing a fire and multiple casualties. The incident occurred on Highway 33 Suwannasorn, in front of the KASIKORNBANK branch in Prachantakham, Moo 2, Tambon Prachantakham, Amphoe Prachantakham. Police coordinated with fire trucks and rescue teams from the Ruamkatanyu Foundation and the Sawang Bampen Tham Foundation.
The scene was a four-lane highway. A trailer truck with license plate 71-3129 Chiang Mai, towing a trailer plate 71-2616 Chiang Mai, was found overturned and engulfed in flames. Nearby, 11 civilian vehicles parked along the road — 10 cars and one motorcycle — were crashed into and burned. The truck also struck a high-voltage power pole, snapping it and causing a widespread power outage. Firefighters rushed to extinguish the blaze.
Three fatalities were confirmed: two sisters, Ms. Phimaporn, 46, and Ms. Duangta, 57, who were selling fried fish balls at a stall on the road shoulder in front of the bank, and Ms. Thaworn, 60, who sold eyeglasses. The injured included the truck driver, Mr. Narathip, 38, and Ms. Chutinya, 51, both in critical condition; three with moderate injuries — Mrs. Mayuree, 50, and two unidentified persons; and three with minor injuries — Mr. Phaibun, 54, Mr. Somchai, 55, and Mrs. Suwani, 53. All were rushed to hospital.
Ms. Supawan, a bank credit officer, reported hearing the truck's brakes screeching from a distance, followed by a loud crash. Power lines and poles then fell, and fire and thick smoke erupted. She grabbed her belongings and ran out to witness the scene, recording video.
Preliminary information indicates the trailer, driven by Mr. Narathip, was fully loaded with longan weighing about 48 tonnes, traveling from Chanthaburi to a checkpoint in Chiang Rai. It came from Kabin Buri district heading into Prachin Buri town. At the accident site, just before a curve leading to the market, the braking system may have failed or broken, causing the truck to lose control and plow into the parked vehicles and vendors.
Police are coordinating to obtain CCTV footage from the KASIKORNBANK branch. Later at 17:45, Prachin Buri Deputy Governor Sanya Namee, accompanied by Prachantakham District Chief Phairat Inthapanya, visited the scene to direct operations. They mobilized personnel from the Prachantakham District Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Center, Prachantakham Police, Pho Ngam Municipality, Prachantakham SAO, Prachin Buri Provincial Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office Region 3, Prachin Buri Public Health Office, Prachantakham Hospital, Dong Bang SAO, Prachin Buri Transport Office, and volunteers from the Ruamkatanyu Prachin Buri Rescue, Ku Chip Rescue, Prachantakham SAO (Sawang Bampen Volunteers), and Sawang Srakaew Rescue.
