Van Hits Wild Elephant in Dark; Driver Injured
A minivan hit a wild elephant crossing a Rayong highway in pre-dawn darkness, injuring the driver and forcing wildlife officials to track the injured animal into nearby forest.
At 3:15 a.m. on August 10, a minivan struck a wild elephant crossing Highway 344 (Ban Bueng–Kaeng route) near the Pa Yub Subdistrict Administrative Office in Kaeng District, Rayong Province. Rescue officials found the van with a crushed front end, shattered windshield, and collapsed roof and hood from the violent impact with the large elephant. The driver, a curry and rice vendor heading out for morning sales, suffered head and facial lacerations and was transported to hospital.
According to the driver's son, Thanadol, his mother saw a large object crossing the road but in the darkness initially mistook it for a tree shadow. By the time she realized it was an elephant, she could not brake in time. The collision was so forceful that the van's frame struck the elephant hard, producing a loud cry that revealed what had happened. The injured elephant trumpeted and escaped across a canal into the forest toward a water reservoir.
Wildlife officials and related agencies have mobilized teams to track the elephant, assess its injuries, and provide ongoing care.
