1 Thai dead, 7 S. Korean tourists hurt in Thailand car crash

BANGKOK – An accident Monday outside of Bangkok involving three vehicles killed one Thai man and left 11 other people injured, including seven South Korean tourists, Thai police said.

Police Lt. Col. Boonsarit Chuaychoo, the investigator in charge of the case, said police suspect that a van carrying the seven South Koreans was driving behind a pickup truck that appeared to have made a sudden U-turn, causing the van to hit the truck from behind and instantly killing the van’s Thai driver.

Those injured in the crash, including the South Koreans, were hospitalized. Boonsarit said none appeared to be in critical condition.

Thailand has the second-highest road traffic fatality rate in the world and loses 3 to 5 per cent of its GDP due to road traffic crashes, according to the World Health Organization’s website.