Truck Plunges Off Khaotone Curve, Catches Fire, Driver Killed
A truck lost its brakes on Highway 304 near Khaotone curve in Prachuap Khiri Khan Province early July 18, flipped and caught fire, killing the driver whose remains were trapped in the cab.
A horrifying accident unfolded in the early morning of July 18, 2025, at approximately 12:30 a.m. on Highway 304 near Khaotone curve in Nadi District, Prachuap Khiri Khan Province. A laden trailer truck (Bangkok registration 70-5674) lost its brakes while descending a steep, dangerous section of road between two national parks and crashed into a concrete barrier in the center of the highway. The impact caused the truck to flip and burst into flames, trapping the driver inside. The cargo of compressed rubber accelerated the fire, which blazed so intensely that rescue teams needed more than an hour to extinguish it. Once firefighters brought the blaze under control, they discovered a charred body burned beyond recognition trapped in the cab. Authorities extracted the remains with great difficulty and transported them to Nadi Hospital for identification.
By 6:55 a.m. the same day, officials revealed that the accident had blocked all lanes heading toward Bangkok, disrupting a major logistics route. Police and highway authorities worked to clear debris and spilled fuel from the roadway, eventually opening one lane temporarily to clear traffic that had backed up for several kilometers. Initial investigation suggests the truck was traveling from Nakhon Ratchasima toward Chumphon when the driver lost braking ability—either due to brake failure or pneumatic brake system failure—on the final steep curve before descending Khaotone. Unable to control the vehicle, the driver struck the sound barrier and concrete barrier at full force, causing the truck to overturn.
