Truck Collision Creates Big Sukhumvit Traffic Jam

August 22, 2012

A collision between two heavy industrial trucks caused both to overturn and left a hazardous chemical spill along Sukhumvit road. A massive traffic jam resulted as police closed the road to clean the area. The drivers suffered only minor injuries.

BANGLAMUNG – August 21,2012 [PDN]: At 2 p.m., Pol. Capt. Nitipoom Bootwong, shift officer on duty, Bangamung police station, was notified of two heavy industrial trucks colliding, resulting in injuries and massive chemical spills.

He rushed to the scene with police colonel Somnuek Jamket, the police force and the rescue team from Sawanboriboon foundation Pattaya. Also dispatched were two fire trucks from Muang Lam Chabang municipality.

The collision occurred on Sukhumwit road, Pattaya inbound, at km 131-132 ,moo 4 Pattaya, Banglamung.

At the scene, an overturned10-wheeled cement mill truck was lying sideways on the right side of the road, its fuel oil soaking the road. The Nissan truck, registration number 80-4683, is owned by Better Concrete Product Co. Ltd.

Two people in the truck received minor injuries: Mr. Prasert Sawatdee, age 48, and his wife Mrs. Naruemol Tilakul, age 53. They were sent to Banglamung hospital by the rescue team.

About 50 meters further on the road, a blue 6-wheeled truck was lying on its side. The Isuzu truck, registration number 71-8206 Chonburi, is owned by KB Shipping Co.Ltd.

The collision caused the Isuzu truck to dislodge its load of 16 chemical tanks containing hazardous chemicals, such as N-Butylchloride and other substances used in plastic mixing.

The tanks were scattered around a grassy field. Some tanks had cracked and chemicals were flowing out continually.

Authorities blocked off the area, and also closed the 4-lane road, opening only one lane for cars to pass. The road closure caused an enormous traffic jam on Sukhumvit.

At the time, the weather was very hot, so firefighters had to spray water on the spilled chemicals to prevent a chemical explosion.

The driver of the chemical truck, Mr. Prateep Teswong, age 40, told police that he had received his load at the Laem Chabang port, and was delivering it to Thai PolyCo. Ltd., located in Map Ta Pud Rayong.

The police called KB Shipping Co. Ltd. to come and bring the hazardous material out of the area safely.

The accident was apparently triggered by an unidentified automobile that escaped the scene. The driver of the 10-wheeler truck, Mr. Praser, said he was driving his load from Ban Rong Poh, when a sedan suddenly cut in front of him. He swerved to avoid hitting the car, but lost control of his truck, which spun and overturned.

The other truck driver following behind, Mr. Prateem, said he had no time to react when the cement mill truck ahead of him suddenly spun and overturned, hitting its side hard.

His truck then collided with the 10-wheeler, and also overturned and slid along the road, scattering its load of chemical tanks.

Police took photographs and mapped scene for evidence. They will question more witnesses again before making a final summary of the accident.