Pathum thani: A tragic accident occurred when a luxury electric train crashed into a canal on Khlong Sib Road, resulting in the death of the driver. Rescue workers and good Samaritans made efforts to save the individual trapped inside but were ultimately unsuccessful.
According to Thai News Agency, the accident took place in front of Soi Rong Makham, Village No. 4, Bueng Ba Subdistrict, Nong Suea District, with the train plunging nearly 10 meters deep into the canal. Despite the rescue workers' swift actions, including breaking the sunroof to extract the driver and performing CPR, the efforts were in vain. The driver, identified as 55-year-old Mr. Witthawat, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Witnesses reported that rescue workers heard knocking sounds from inside the vehicle before they faded away. The rescue team managed to pull the body out after smashing a window and opening the car's roof. The driver's son, upon arriving, pleaded with rescue workers to save his father, offering a reward, but their attempts to revive him were unsuccessful. The train was later extracted from the canal, revealing damage to the front bumper and shattered rear window due to rescue efforts. The vehicle's airbags had been deployed.
A good Samaritan recounted that he and a rescue worker friend responded to the incident near the Chalermprakiat Arch of Nong Suea Municipality. They observed tire marks leading into the canal and noted that the car floated approximately 100 meters before sinking. Efforts to open the door were futile, prompting them to smash the roof glass to retrieve the occupant.
Nong Suea Police Station officers documented the scene and took the vehicle for further examination. The Ruamkatanyu Foundation transported the body to Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Medical Center Hospital for an autopsy.
In response to the incident, Associate Professor Jessada Denduangboriban from Chulalongkorn University shared insights on social media, highlighting the importance of window-shattering devices in vehicles. He noted that such tools could be critical for escaping submerged vehicles, a precaution he adopted following previous incidents of vehicles trapped in water.