A tragic accident occurred when a car crashed into a Salak Phra wild elephant, causing a fire that engulfed and killed a 70-year-old man, with two others injured on Highway 323.
On 20 May 2026, reporters learned that at 9:00 p.m. the previous day (19 May), Lieutenant Colonel Natthaphon Thongsikao, deputy investigation officer at Lat Ya Police Station in Kanchanaburi, received a report from the station's radio center about a severe collision between a car and a wild elephant, resulting in injuries and a fatality.
The incident occurred on Highway 323, inbound toward Kanchanaburi city district, in Village 9, Wang Dang Subdistrict, Mueang District, Kanchanaburi Province. After receiving the report, Lieutenant Colonel Sitthipong Sangsaeng, the commanding officer of Lat Ya Police Station, was informed. Authorities promptly proceeded to the scene with on-call doctors from Phaholpolpayuhasena Hospital, forensic police, Salak Phra Wildlife Sanctuary officials, and staff from the Pitak Kanchan Foundation.
The scene was quite dark despite the presence of many lights. A bronze Toyota Corolla from Kanchanaburi was found stopped at the roadside, its front severely damaged. The engine compartment had caught fire, which spread almost throughout the entire vehicle. Officials had already managed to extinguish the flames before further damage occurred.
Upon examination, a deceased elderly man was found in the front left seat. After preliminary investigation, his body was taken to Phaholpolpayuhasena Hospital. He was identified as Mr. Chukiat Jongcharoen, 70 years old.
The driver and two passengers were taken earlier by the Pitak Kanchan Foundation to Phaholpolpayuhasena Hospital. Their names are Mr. Chan Luangsa-ard, 64, the driver, and Mr. Supanat Niramitwasu, 74, seated in the rear. Both are residents of Tha Makham Subdistrict, Mueang District, Kanchanaburi. The damaged car was moved and kept at Lat Ya Police Station.
Preliminary information indicates that while Mr. Chan was driving the car along Highway 323 from Sai Yok District toward Kanchanaburi city, at the darkened accident site, wild elephants from the Salak Phra Wildlife Sanctuary had come out to forage outside the protected forest area by crossing the Khwae Yai River and then crossing the road, causing the accident.
Due to the severe damage to the car from the collision with the elephant, it remains unknown how seriously the wild elephant involved was injured.
A car collision with a wild elephant on Highway 323 is considered the first in history, as such accidents previously occurred only on Road 3199 between Kanchanaburi and Si Sawat.
Image from FacebookJust a game, Pitak Kanchan