Bangkok: A pickup truck veered off the road and plunged into the Chai Nat-Pa Sak canal in Lopburi province, resulting in the tragic deaths of two individuals. Locals quickly alerted authorities, who dispatched a team of divers to the scene, where they battled strong currents from midnight until morning to recover the bodies of the driver and a young woman.
According to Thai News Agency, the incident was reported to the Lopburi City Police Station by a concerned citizen. The report detailed that a vehicle had fallen into the canal near bridges 8 and 9, in Moo 3, Pa Tan Subdistrict, Mueang Lopburi District. Authorities coordinated with volunteers from the Ruam Katanyu Foundation and divers to search the area. At approximately 3:30 AM, tire tracks were discovered leading through vegetation into the canal, although the vehicle itself was not immediately visible.
After an extensive search lasting about an hour and a half, rescue workers and divers located the vehicle submerged at a depth of 10 meters amid a strong current. The car was a black Ford Everest, license plate GL 5293 from Chachoengsao Province, with significant damage to its front, but it was not overturned. The right-hand window was slightly ajar, and the car was retrieved using a sling to prevent it from being swept away by the current, a process that took an additional 30 minutes.
Inside the vehicle, the bodies of Mr. Nattaporn, 54, and Ms. Thanyaboon, 50, both residents of Khlong Thap Chan Subdistrict, Aranyaprathet District, Sa Kaeo Province, were found. Initial investigations revealed that locals had heard the sound of a vehicle falling into the water around midnight. They saw the taillights flickering as the vehicle sank, but were unable to identify what type of vehicle it was at the time.
Local residents reported having seen the vehicle driving around Lopburi province and nearby areas, leading to speculation that it might have been used as a delivery vehicle or hired transport within the city. Authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident. The bodies of the deceased have been sent to the Institute of Forensic Science, Ministry of Justice, for autopsy to ascertain the exact cause of death.