A witness recounted the tragic moment when a doctor professor drove a car through a red light, striking three first-year students from Mae Fah Luang University (MFU), resulting in two deaths and one injury. The discovery of the victims' bodies was prompted by a phone ringing from the tall grass. There is a call for a straightforward investigation and a plea to avoid excuses such as “my future is still long” to evade responsibility.
On 30 Aug 2026, a heartbreaking accident occurred when a car driven by a medical professor lost control and crashed into a group of first-year students from Mae Fah Luang University (MFU) who were stopped at a traffic light at Nang Lae Intersection. The collision caused two student fatalities and one severe injury at the traffic light intersection.
Reporters interviewed witnesses Mr. Wuttichai, 31, and Ms. Benchamas, 40, a married couple who witnessed the accident and helped the injured on the night it happened. The location is Nang Lae three-way intersection, Nang Lae Subdistrict, Mueang Chiang Rai District, along the inbound side of Phahonyothin Road toward Mae Chan District.
Mr. Wuttichai and Ms. Benchamas revealed the incident occurred around 20:15 to 20:20 while they were driving home from dinner. They arrived at the scene within five minutes after the collision. The injured students had stopped their motorcycles at the red light by the roadside when the offending car suddenly swerved left at high speed, violently hitting the group. The force threw the victims more than 10 meters away.
Upon examining the injured at the scene, the first student was found dead with no pulse. The second student was unconscious briefly but regained consciousness after locals and witnesses helped, suffering severe leg wounds. The third student, who died later, was thrown against a roadside tree in complete darkness, covered by an umbrella. A ringing phone from the victim’s brother’s call revealed the body, which otherwise might have gone unnoticed due to poor lighting.
Ms. Benchamas added that all the students were from out of town and had only been studying for about one month since starting their first year in July. Relatives have arranged for one of the deceased to be taken back to Pattani Province for funeral rites.
Mr. Wuttichai said that at the time of the accident, the driver appeared shocked and kept saying, “I was careless.” He was preoccupied with phone calls and did not assist the injured.
Additionally, Mr. Wuttichai expressed deep concern over reports that the perpetrator told police something to the effect of “my future is still long.” He spoke emotionally,
“Don’t use the excuse that you have a long future ahead. The children who died also had futures, and theirs were much longer. They came from different provinces and families, sent by their parents to pursue their dreams, but now they no longer have that chance. I urge relevant authorities to handle the case transparently and fairly for the bereaved families.”
Local witnesses added that accidents frequently occur at this intersection. Streetlights have been out for a long time, and none of the six CCTV cameras installed on the poles at the site are functional. They call on responsible agencies to urgently fix these issues. However, the main cause remains the driver’s negligence.
The witnesses also reported seeing the doctor's car aggressively overtaking and squeezing past another vehicle since the Rajabhat University intersection to the accident site. The car ahead passed the green light first, after which the doctor’s car tried to run the red light by moving left, likely chasing the car that escaped. After hitting the students, another car that had been cut off stopped and its driver got out to argue with the doctor’s driver.