Police chase ends in crash, 21 injured as truck with 44 Myanmar migrants overturns in Kanchanaburi
A police chase in Kanchanaburi led to a truck carrying 44 Myanmar migrants overturning, injuring over 20 people. The migrants were attempting to illegally enter Thailand.
In a dramatic incident in Kanchanaburi, over 20 people were injured after a truck carrying 44 Myanmar migrants overturned while fleeing a police chase on February 26, 2026. The incident occurred on Highway 323, near kilometre markers 81-82 in Wang Dong sub-district, Mueang Kanchanaburi.
According to Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) and Highway Police Division, officers initially spotted a suspicious white Mitsubishi Triton pickup truck without a proper rear number plate and with a counterfeit front plate in Sai Yok district. When the driver noticed the police, he sped off, driving recklessly and even driving against traffic.
The police pursued the vehicle for over 50 kilometres until it lost control and overturned in Wang Dong sub-district. Emergency responders arrived to assist and discovered that the driver had fled the scene amid the chaos.
Inside the truck, police found 44 undocumented Myanmar migrants crammed into the vehicle. 21 people were injured and were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.
Upon investigation, authorities found that none of the migrants had valid passports or identification documents. The truck was seized as evidence.
The migrants confessed to crossing the border illegally from Yangon, Myanmar, through a natural crossing in Sangkhla Buri district. They were heading to Malaysia and had paid 130,000 baht each to human traffickers, planning to work off their debts.
All suspects have been detained and transferred to Lat Ya Police Station for further legal action. Preliminary investigations show the migrants have confessed to their illegal activities.
