On July 8, 2024, at 5:50 PM, a tragic accident involving a train and a van occurred at an unprotected railway crossing in Ban Ratcha Chang Khwan, Village No. 1, Pak Thang sub-district, Muang Phichit district. The collision left several people dead and others injured.
Police officers from Muang Phichit, along with various rescue teams, quickly arrived at the scene to provide assistance. They found a brown van with the license plate BM-5669 Phichit overturned on the roadside. The van had been struck by train number 201, which was en route from Bangkok to Phitsanulok.
Witnesses reported that the van, carrying a man, a woman, and six children, was attempting to cross the railway tracks when it was hit by the oncoming train. The impact propelled the van approximately 30 meters, scattering the bodies of the passengers. Three people died instantly, while two others succumbed to their injuries at Phichit Hospital. The remaining two passengers were in critical condition.
Authorities confirmed the identities of the deceased as Bunsong Chaosakul, 28, a 14-year-old girl known as Miss A, and an unidentified woman. The injured included Prasit Rodthong, Pratchaya Kongrat, and several others who were taken to Phichit Hospital for treatment.
Further investigation revealed that the train conductor, Phinit Waichotkarn, and maintenance officer, Nares Mandee, had sounded the warning whistle upon seeing the van but were unable to prevent the collision. The van’s occupants were on their way to attend a funeral at a nearby temple when they crossed the tracks just as the train approached.
Local officials, including Pol. Maj. Gen. Thadej Klomkliang, commander of Phichit Provincial Police, and Pol. Col. Navin Srisombun, along with district chief Sompong Homsanit and safety officer Sayan Kawiwong, visited the accident site to oversee the rescue efforts and coordinate the response.
Despite the tragic incident, train services to the northern region continued unaffected. The accident highlights the dangers of unprotected railway crossings and has prompted calls for increased safety measures to prevent similar occurrences in the future. Further updates on the investigation and the conditions of the injured will be provided as more information becomes available.
