Biker killed as cars pile up in Bangkok rain havoc

The scene of a 16-vehicle accident Friday morning on Vibhavadi-Rangsit Road. Photo: JS100 / Twitter
The scene of a 16-vehicle accident Friday morning on Vibhavadi-Rangsit Road. Photo: JS100 / Twitter

A 16-vehicle pile-up shut down Vibhavadi-Rangsit Road early this morning, one of two major accidents that left one man dead as heavy rain continues to fall nationwide.

It was traffic hell around 2:30am as sedans, pickups, trucks and buses collided on the slippery arterial road at several locations around the Lak Si area heading toward Din Daeng. There were no reports of injury in that incident, but about 90 minutes later, 36-year-old Wutthichai Champnot died when the large motorcycle he was riding got into an accident with four cars near BTS Saphan Mai.

Not far from Suvarnabhumi Airport, a trailer truck lost control and crashed into an electrical pole at about 6:30am, knocking it and its cables down, leading to utility-pole dominoes as 10 more were pulled to the ground. Power remained out in the as of noon with city utility workers saying it would be back by 1 pm.

The capital has been lashed with heavy rains for the past week, which left significant portions of downtown heavily flooded one week ago today.

Rain showers are expected to continue over most of Bangkok all the way through next weekend as a depression moves through from the upper gulf. Highs in the capital will be between 28C and 31C.

Northeast of Bangkok, Khao Yai National Park was shut indefinitely to visitors this morning due after storms knocked down large trees and caused several landslides in recent days, blocking roads. Utility posts were also felled there, leaving people without electricity for two days. Park chief Narin Pinsakul said it would take several more days to clear the way and make sure visitors could travel safely. 

Three people, including two pilots and a passenger, were injured aboard a navy helicopter forced to make an emergency landing last night at Sirikit Dam, according to a military spokesperson.

The Prime Minister’s Office said it is closely monitoring flash flooding and has prepared personnel to provide assistance to those affected.

Read more stories of Coconuts Bangkok here



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