Five-car pile-up brings Ratchada to a standstill

Following the accident at around 4.50am, police and rescue workers rushed to the scene and found five vehicles on fire. Fire-fighters took only 15 minutes to bring the blaze under control. Three vehicles were completely burned out. Three people were rushed to Rajavithi Hospital with only minor injuries, police said.

The accident caused severe tailbacks during the morning rush hour on the inbound Ratchadaphisek Road up to the Sutthisan intersection, prompting authorities to speedily clear the wreckage site.

Sutthisan traffic police inspector Pol Lt-Colonel Noppasin Phumee said the pile-up was caused by the heavy downpour, resulting in a slippery road surface. The accident reportedly occurred when an Isuzu truck entering the tunnel lost control. Vehicles behind it – including three taxis and a Toyota pick-up truck – were unable to brake in time to avoid a collision. The taxi behind the Isuzu truck smashed into its gas tank, causing the fire, police said. 

Noppasin said road accidents in tunnels usually occurred when there was a heavy rainfall, leading to slippery conditions. He said police had already asked the city to clean oil stains from roads leading to tunnel entrances and to install traffic signals indicating that cars should slow down when approaching a tunnel.

 

Bangkok’s 10 dangerous tunnels

 

Huai Khwang (11 crashes)

Lak Si Tunnel (seven accidents)

Kaset-Nawamin Intersection (six accidents)

Tha Phra 

Sutthisan

Din Daeng 

Phaholyothin-Lat Plakhao

Thavornthawat 

Pattanakarn Road 

Bang Phlat Intersection