Van Hits Wild Elephant on Rayong Highway
A food vendor was injured when her van struck a wild elephant crossing a Rayong highway before dawn, with the animal escaping into forest after the collision near Pa Yup Nai on August 10.
RAYONG — A food vendor was injured when her van crashed into a large wild elephant crossing Route 344 (Ban Bueng–Klaeng) in Rayong province at approximately 03:15 on August 10, 2026, near the Pa Yup Nai Subdistrict Administrative Organisation at kilometre marker 71+100.
Rescue workers found the van with severe front-end damage, shattered windscreen, and a collapsed roof and bonnet. The driver, who had been travelling with her son, sustained cuts to her head and face and was transported to a private hospital in Chon Buri for treatment.
According to her son Thanadon Khamdee, they were driving with goods for morning food sales when a large shape suddenly appeared crossing the road. In the darkness, they initially mistook it for a tree shadow. By the time they realised it was an elephant, they could not stop, and the van collided heavily with the animal.
The elephant cried out after impact and walked away into a nearby canal before disappearing into the forest toward a reservoir. Its injuries and current condition are unknown.
Wild elephant tracking teams have been deployed to search for the animal to assess injuries and arrange treatment if needed. Officials have urged motorists using Route 344, especially at night, to exercise caution and reduce speed in areas where wild elephants frequently cross. Drivers are advised not to sound horns or rev engines, but instead to stop at a safe distance if they encounter elephants.
