Police initially suspected the accident at the dimly lit area stemmed from 47-year-old van driver Somchai Kornchaiya dozing off behind the wheel, said case investigator Pol Captian Suthep Namklang. He added that police would interview both Somchai and the truck driver Thawatchai Larpkhunthod to determine the cause of accident later.

Following the accident report at 2.30am, police found the van its severely dented front end stuck to the trailer truck’s rear bumper, while the wounded passengers were sent to Sida Hospital.

The wounded passengers are Boonma Sanprasri, 58, Somporn Saenhemthong, 66, and Pongladda Pheuyo, 29.

Pongladda told police that she and two relatives hired the van to travel from Bangkok to visit their hometown in Maha Sarakham’s Kosum Pisai district. She called the incident a miraculous escape from death, as she was seated in the front seat, which was severely damaged.