Phuket –
A tragic accident occurred early this morning when a passenger van carrying Russian tourists crashed into a roadside barrier and utility pole in Phuket, leaving one woman dead and 12 others injured, including the driver.
The accident was reported at around 4:00 A.M. on Wednesday (March 18th) to the Thachatchai Police, Thalang. Rescue teams rushed to the scene on Thepkasattri Road near Ao Tokhun, Mai Khao.
Authorities found a white passenger van severely damaged at the front and wedged against a utility pole. A roadside steel barrier had pierced into the vehicle’s cabin, trapping several passengers. Rescuers used hydraulic cutting equipment to free the victims in a difficult and time-consuming operation.
Among the passengers were 12 Russian tourists. Eleven sustained injuries of varying severity, while one female tourist was pronounced dead at the scene. The injured were transported to a hospital for treatment.
The 41-year-old driver told police he suffers from a chronic medical condition and lost consciousness while driving, causing the van to veer off course and collide with the barrier. It was unclear why a person with a chronic medical condition was driving a passenger vehicle. The group had been picked up from Karon in Phuket and was en route to the Tab Lamu Pier in Phang Nga, north of Phuket where they planned to board a boat to the Similan Islands.
Police are conducting a detailed investigation into the cause of the accident and will proceed with legal measures as required, including looking into the employment of the driver and ownership of the minivan business and whether the driver had proper documentation and passed appropriate medical and licensing tests.
