A dramatic accident occurred when a gas tank truck overturned on the Chiang Mai-Lampang road, followed by a loud explosion and a fire. The driver shared the life-threatening moments, narrowly escaping.
At around 11:00 on 19 August 2026, a liquefied gas tank truck overturned on the Chiang Mai-Lampang inbound road (Highway 11), in front of Chiang Mai Beverage Company, Yang Noeng Subdistrict, Saraphi District, Chiang Mai. Drivers captured footage of the intense flames and periodic explosions of the gas tanks, causing great alarm among road users.
After receiving the report, firefighters and rescue units rushed to the scene, closing the road and securing the area for safety. They doused the fire and moved the remaining gas tanks to a safe location. It took nearly one hour to bring the situation under control. The vehicle involved was a white Toyota pickup registered in Chiang Rai, completely burned down to a shell. Dozens of liquefied gas tanks were found burned at the scene. The driver and accompanying employee were unharmed.
Officials from the Chiang Mai Provincial Transport Office and the Transport Safety Center also arrived on site to inspect.
Mr. Mongkol Sonsukthong, 35, the driver, recounted that before the accident, he had loaded 70 full liquefied gas tanks from a company in Lamphun Province to deliver to Chiang Mai. He was driving normally at about 80 km/h when, at the accident spot, the right rear wheel suddenly detached, causing the vehicle to lose control. He tried to steer the truck to the roadside, but due to the heavy load, he could only control it for about 50 meters before it overturned. He and the employee quickly escaped before the gas tanks exploded, narrowly avoiding disaster.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Chaiya Chantep, an investigator from Saraphi Police Station, inspected the scene and said preliminary information from the driver indicated the rear tire exploded before the wheel detached, causing the accident. Further inspections by related agencies will be conducted to determine the exact cause of the crash.