Highway police rushed to rescue five people who narrowly escaped after a GPS error led their vehicle into floodwaters beneath a bridge. The water was deeper than expected, flooding the passenger cabin.
On 3 January 2026, Pol. Lt. Col. Saranyapong Onsing, Superintendent of Highway Patrol Unit 1, Division 2, along with volunteer highway police in Samut Songkhram Province, while on duty, spotted a KIA van with Bangkok license plate 1นง 3927. The driver had lost his way and accidentally drove into a canal, submerging the vehicle near the U-turn point under the bridge at kilometer 72 on Rama 2 Road, Khlong Khon Subdistrict, Mueang District, Samut Songkhram. At the time, water levels were high due to the high tide, flooding the van’s passenger compartment where occupants were trapped. Officers promptly intervened and safely rescued the passengers along with their valuables.
Upon rescue, officials found five passengers inside the van—four women and one man. They were traveling from Hua Hin and intended to turn around to have a meal near Khlong Khon. Their GPS directed them to make the U-turn under the bridge, which was flooded. The driver assumed the water level was shallow and attempted to drive through, but mid-way found the water deeper than anticipated. As the van began to float, he quickly opened the door and called for help, narrowly escaping danger.
Officials then contacted the passengers’ relatives to pick them up and return to Bangkok. Meanwhile, the van, which is electrically operated, must await a tow truck from the insurance company to be safely pulled from the water, to prevent damage and hazards related to the electrical system.