Debris from the Rama II flyover crashes onto a truck below.
In the gritty heart of Samut Sakhon, a harrowing incident unfolded on Rama II Road when an old flyover, resembling a relic of time, unexpectedly spitted out chunks of concrete onto a humble pickup truck, shattering its windshield.
The Transport Minister, Suriya Juengrungreungkit, addressed the media, confirming the accident occurred close to distance marker 27+500, Bangkok-bound, in Samut Sakhon. The slow and steady collapse emerged from the Mahachai flyover, an antiquated bridge hovering above Rama II Road, as revealed by the Department of Highways.
Initially, there was some confusion about the fall originating from a nearby expressway under construction with a questionable safety record. However, subsequent investigations clarified that the debris indeed came from the Mahachai flyover itself, located outside the active construction zones of the M82 intercity motorway's Khunthian-Ban Phaeo section.
The incident was reported to Samut Sakhon Foundation around 7:40 am, with rescuers racing to the scene. They found a stranded white Ford Ranger pickup in a lane under the bridge structure in Muang district, later adjusted to Bangkok outbound. The victim, Amnat, endured injuries to his chin, chest, and arms, as concrete smashed through the driver's side of the windshield, leaving large pieces lodged on the front seat.
According to the victim, there were no forewarnings before parts of the beam plummeted as he passed beneath the structure. He was rushed to Vibharam Samut Sakhon Hospital for treatment.
The local police launched an investigation, and the injured driver received assistance. In response, Suriya ordered safety checks on road bridges nationwide to prevent similar occurrences.
MP Natthapong Sumanotham of the Samut Sakhon People's Party shared an update about Amnat's condition. He was suffering from internal bleeding and a ruptured liver, prompting a transfer to a better-equipped hospital. The construction company confirmed they would cover the medical expenses.
However, the ongoing construction of the delayed intercity expressway has been marred by accidents, with parts of the structure falling on vehicles, causing injuries and fatalities. Most recently, on April 4, a pickup truck driver was injured by a falling crane.
The aged Mahachai flyover has been linked to such incidents due to its aging infrastructure, neglected maintenance, and, perhaps, hidden structural or material vulnerabilities that have surfaced over time. Despite the lack of explicit details about past incidents, this event underscores systemic issues in preventive infrastructure audits and rapid repair mechanisms for aging transportation networks.
Over the years, concerns about the flyover's structural integrity have surfaced, but no preemptive reinforcement or closure measures were reportedly taken. The incident has sparked increased scrutiny over infrastructure maintenance protocols for older bridges on high-traffic corridors like Rama 2 Road.
- The Mahachai flyover, where the accident occurred, is located outside the active construction zones of the M82 intercity motorway's Khunthian-Ban Phaeo section.
- The victim, Amnat, was driving a white Ford Ranger pickup on Rama II Road when parts of the beam from the Mahachai flyover plummeted onto his vehicle.
- General news outlets have reported an increase in car-accidents associated with the ongoing construction of the delayed intercity expressway, including the recent incident where a pickup truck driver was injured by a falling crane.
- Despite previous concerns about the flyover's structural integrity, no preemptive reinforcement or closure measures were reportedly taken over the years.
