A pickup driver recounted the moment his vehicle fell into a sinkhole on the inbound side of Rama 2 Road, about 1 km from the crane collapse location. A large water main pipe was found broken, affecting a wide area with water outages and disruptions.
On 17 Jan 2026 at about 07:00, the Samut Sakhon City Police Radio Center received a report of a vehicle accident involving a large pothole on the parallel lane of Rama 2 Road inbound to Bangkok, in front of Chok Thawee Lumber Store, Maha Chai Subdistrict, Mueang District, Samut Sakhon Province. The vehicle was immobilized, so Police Lieutenant Pacharaphon Paosamran, traffic inspector of Mueang Samut Sakhon Police Station, along with traffic police officers, were dispatched to investigate.
At the scene, a gray-black Isuzu D-Max pickup truck registered in Bangkok was found with its right front wheel trapped in a hole approximately 1 meter wide, 1.5 meters long, and about 1 meter deep. The remaining wheels were lifted off the road surface, raising concerns the vehicle might tip over. Police quickly coordinated to bring a tow truck to remove the vehicle from the roadway. Traffic cones were placed to warn drivers of the hazard.
The pickup truck driver was Mr. Sampan Puhuaiphra, 32, from Samut Prakan Province. He was fortunate to have suffered no injuries. The road surface was flooded with water from a broken water pipe. Nearby, an excavator was parked along with a large water pipe laid parallel to the roadside. The pipe is understood to belong to the Samut Sakhon Municipality.
Mr. Sampan Puhuaiphra, 32, the pickup driver, said he was returning home to Bangkok after work, following a six-wheeled truck. The road surface was normal and dry with no flooding. Suddenly, at the accident spot, the ground collapsed and his vehicle’s wheel plunged into the hole, causing it to tip immediately.
Mr. Sakchai Nimitpanya, Deputy Mayor of Samut Sakhon Municipality, who arrived at the scene, said that around 5:30 a.m. he was informed that the water supply had stopped citywide. He went out to inspect but could not immediately determine the cause since the water pipes are underground. He ordered officials to urgently investigate and repair the damage. This area has been under construction for about 5–6 months to lay a temporary water main while waiting for the completion of Rama 2 Road’s elevated section. Once finished, the water pipes will be relocated back to their original route near the elevated road construction. The municipality will also speak with the accident victim for compensation.
Additional reporting noted that the road subsidence caused by the broken water pipe is about 1 kilometer away from the crane collapse site but on the opposite side of the road. The crane collapse occurred on the outbound side of Rama 2 Road, while the road subsidence is on the inbound side. Both incidents have caused severe traffic congestion.
Following the incident, Samut Sakhon Municipality issued an emergency announcement for all water supply areas served by the municipality. A 1,000 mm diameter water main broke on the parallel lane of Rama 2 Road at highway 35 km 29+300 (inbound side near Chok Thawee Lumber Store), resulting in a water outage affecting all municipal water service areas. Travelers are advised to avoid this area. The municipality apologizes for the inconvenience caused.