MUKDAHAN, Thailand – A routine stop at a traffic light turned into a fatal tragedy when a six-wheel truck crashed into vehicles waiting at a red light in Mukdahan, killing a 42-year-old motorcyclist. Police later found the truck driver had a high level of alcohol in his system and charged him with drink driving and causing death by reckless driving. The crash happened at around 10:30 a.m. on July 21 at the inner bypass road intersection in Mukdahan. Traffic officers and rescue workers rushed to the scene after receiving reports that a truck had struck vehicles stopped at the intersection. Investigators found a Honda Click motorcycle crushed beneath a Hino six-wheel truck, while a Toyota Hilux Revo pickup truck had also been hit from behind. Nearby, police found the body of Ms. Watcharee Yeunyang, 42, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
The truck driver, identified as Chainarong, 58, told police he had been travelling from Khamcha-e district to collect construction materials. He claimed the truck’s brakes failed, causing him to hit the motorcycle before continuing forward and striking the pickup truck waiting at the traffic light.
However, police testing found the driver had an alcohol level of 191 milligrams per cent — far above the legal limit. Officers subsequently charged him with driving while intoxicated and reckless driving causing another person’s death before taking him into custody for further legal proceedings.
The tragedy highlights one of the most dangerous moments on Thailand’s roads: waiting at intersections.
A red light should be a moment of safety, but waiting vehicles can become easy targets for reckless drivers. Motorcyclists face the greatest danger, with little protection in a crash. Authorities continue to warn that drink driving and careless behavior can turn seconds of poor judgment into a lifetime of loss.
