One person died and five were injured in an accident where a box truck lost control and crossed into the opposite lane, crashing head-on into an ambulance from Sangha Hospital that was transporting a critically ill patient for transfer to Surin Hospital. Despite resuscitation efforts, the critically ill patient later died.
At 13:45 on 12 August 2026, the Surin Rescue Radio Center received a report of a box truck colliding with an ambulance from Sangha District. Five people were injured, with one trapped inside the ambulance on Surin-Lamduan Road at kilometer 5. The report was forwarded to Lieutenant Pol Pal Muangklang, Deputy Investigation Officer of Mueang Surin Police Station, who, together with Surin rescue volunteers, EMS VR rescue unit, and cutting equipment, proceeded to assist at the scene.
At the scene, the ambulance from Sangha District Hospital in Surin Province, white with green stripes, was found stranded on the central median with its front heavily damaged. There were six injured individuals: three men — the box truck driver, the ambulance driver, and a patient — and three women, one of whom was trapped inside the ambulance. Rescue volunteers used cutting tools for about 15 minutes to free her. She sustained a torn and deformed fracture in her left leg.
It was later reported that the male patient in the ambulance, after the severe impact, required CPR performed by rescue personnel and Surin Hospital emergency staff. He was rushed to Surin Hospital but later died. The remaining injured were transported to Surin Hospital by EMS, VR rescue, and Salakdai rescue vehicles.
Inquiry revealed the ambulance from Sangha Hospital was transferring a patient to Surin Provincial Hospital. On board were two female nurses, a critically ill male patient, a female relative of the patient, and the ambulance driver.
At the accident site, the box truck lost control, crossed into the opposite lane, and violently collided head-on with the ambulance, causing extensive damage and scattering medical equipment. Injured individuals were promptly taken to Surin Hospital. The nurses performed CPR on the critically ill male patient but could not save him, and he died later.
About 10 meters from the ambulance, a black Toyota single-cabin box truck was found off the road with severe front-end damage. Locals reported the truck was headed to Lamduan District, Surin Province, when a tire blew out at the accident site, causing loss of control and the collision with the Sangha Hospital ambulance. This caused the injuries and death described.
Lieutenant Pol Pal Muangklang, Deputy Investigation Officer of Mueang Surin Police Station, documented the scene with photographs. He stated that both parties would be treated fairly. Investigations will include interviewing both drivers, witnesses, and reviewing dashcam and CCTV footage to determine the true cause of the accident.