Road traffic investigation of a school pickup truck crashing into a tree, Takbai district, Narathiwat province, Thailand, 11 August 2015

Abstract

Background: On 17 – 19 August 2015, the rapid response team of the Office of Disease Prevention and Control region 12, Songkhla and a local road traffic investigation team conducted an investigation on an accident of a school pickup truck crashing into a tree on Narathiwat–Takbai road in Takbai District, Narathiwat Province, Thailand. It aimed to describe the event and the factors affecting injury and death, and implement specific interventions to reduce severe injuries and death in the future.
Methods: A descriptive epidemiological study was conducted by gathering data from medical documents, observation of the scene and interviewing those involved in the event. The factors of injuries were identified using the Haddon’s matrix.
Results: On 11 August 2015, a man was driving the school pickup truck at a speed of about 120 km/hr, the truck ran off the road, fall into the depressed median strip and hit a tree. The front of the truck took the brunt of the impact and the roof was twisted to the side. Three students were ejected out of the truck. Out of 12 people in the truck, the driver and nine students (83.3%) were killed, and two students were seriously injured. Head injury was the most common type of death (90.0%).
Conclusions: There were dangerous driving, non–use of seat belts and occupying of the space–cab area by 3 students who died in the accident. Vehicular factors featured with no safety devices and the modified cargo area for a school–bus. In the clear zone of the road, Big trees were observed and an underground cement water pipe was raised above the ground. We recommended that local agencies should provide rumble strip and signs to reduce speed limits at this dangerous site, and enforce law on vehicle and passenger safety. Trees that were diameter bigger than 10 cm and big barriers should be eliminated in the clear zone either on roadsides or the median strip.