Four die in a pickup truck that smashed into a roadside tree

Three youths were killed and the fourth died later at a hospital after a pickup truck in which they were travelling lost control and crashed into a huge roadside tree in Phimai district of Nakhon Ratchasima on Saturday(Apr 14).

Police said that the four youths had just celebrated their Songkran in Ban Tambon Hin Lat, Huey Klang district and had drunk whisky before they set off for a ride to Phimai district.

While heading for Phimai district, the group live-streamed their journey with the driver being seen sipping whisky and appeared to be not focusing on driving while the others giggled.

As the truck was approaching Ban Thavornpattana, about 9 kilometres from Phimai district, the driver suddenly lost control of the truck which overturned and then crashed into a roadside tree.

The impact was so strong that the engine was thrown out of the vehicle, killing three of them, including the driver, at the scene of the fatal crash. The fourth was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Only one of the victims was identified as Chatuporn Samutirum, 21.