PATTAYA, Thailand – Several foreign tourists were injured after a passenger van crashed into a line of vehicles stopped at a red light in Pattaya late Monday night, triggering a four-vehicle chain-reaction collision. The crash occurred at around 10 p.m. on July 27 at the North Pattaya Motorway intersection. Rescue workers from the Sawang Boriboon rushed to the scene with hydraulic rescue equipment after receiving reports of multiple injuries.
Police found the van had slammed into the rear of a Toyota Fortuner, with the impact pushing the SUV into a passenger baht bus (songthaew), which then rolled forward and struck another car waiting at the traffic lights. Four vehicles were damaged in the collision, with the van sustaining severe front-end damage. The songthaew was carrying 13 tourists from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, all of whom were shaken by the crash. Four passengers sustained injuries and were taken to hospital.
The van driver, identified only as 32-year-old Pongphet, became trapped inside the wreckage. Rescue workers used hydraulic cutting tools to free him before he was transported to hospital. Two Chinese tourists traveling in the van also suffered leg injuries and were taken to Bangkok Hospital Pattaya after receiving first aid at the scene. Two women traveling in the Toyota Fortuner were also injured.
The van driver told police he was driving down the overpass at normal speed but failed to notice vehicles stopped at the traffic light ahead, leaving him unable to brake in time before the collision. Police documented the scene, collected evidence, and are reviewing CCTV footage while questioning those involved to determine the exact cause of the crash.
