CHACHOENGSAO: Engineers have found that a poorly installed decorative "skirt" caused a family on vacation to pass out in their car on an elevated expressway in Bang Pakong district on Sunday.
Engineers from the Land Transport Department checked out the Nissan Almera car owned by Thanainan Chueathirapong, 31, in response to a police request.
On Sunday, Mr Thanainan, his 7-year-old daughter and 26-year-old girlfriend were found unconscious in their car, which was stopped on the shoulder of the elevated Bang Na-Bang Pakong expressway. They were on their way from Bangkok to Bang Saen beach in Chon Buri province.
Mr Thanainan was semi-conscious. The two passengers had passed out and were drooling.
After examining the vehicle for two hours, engineer Thawee Metheesupamit said the car had a decorative skirt on all sides, and the rear skirt covered the exhaust pipe outlet.
Consequently, exhaust fumes were trapped under the vehicle and passed into the passenger area through an open hole in the boot.
The hole was normally plugged, but might have been left open when the rear bumper was reinstalled after the decorative skirt was put in place, he said.
Mr Thawee said his team did not find any other defective aspects in the car.
