Ten people, including the driver, were injured - six of them seriously - when a van crashed into a tree on the road median in Thap Sakae district early on Sunday.
Police said the Bangkok-registered van was transporting people from Surat Thani's Don Sak district to Sakon Nakhon province for merit-making. The accident occurred at 6.30am at kilometre marker 343 on the Asian Highway near Ban Hin Thoen.
Highway police and rescue workers from a local charity foundation were sent to the scene.
Naruebet Joradet, 18, the driver, Wanchalerm Thongmai, 25, who was in the left front seat, and four other passengers were found to be seriously injured. Another four other passengers were slightly hurt.
The van was badly damaged.
Police were investigating. It was initially suspected that the driver had fallen asleep at the wheel.
