Seven killed in van crash in Chon Buri

A Bangkok-Map Ta Phut passenger van yesterday crashed into a roadside signpost on Pattaya-Rayong Road in Chon Buri's Bang Lamung district and burst into flames, killing seven people on board, Nong Pleu police superintendent Pol Col Somneuk Janket said.

Police suspected the driver had dozed off behind the wheel leading to the crash, and subsequently the compressed natural gas-powered van caught fire.

The van, carrying a driver and nine passengers, was reportedly driven at high speed, lost control and crashed into a signpost before plunging into a ditch near Bira Circuit racetrack at around 9am. It quickly caught fire, killing six females and one male onboard, while two other female passengers and the van driver Chuchart Phothichai, 50, were injured and rushed to Sirikit Hospital in Sattahip. Police also kept Chuchart, who was in the ICU, in police custody to face the charge of reckless driving causing deaths and injuries to others.