A 21-year-old woman died when her motorcycle was struck by a freight train at an unguarded, informal level crossing in Bangkok’s Lat Krabang district in the early hours of Sunday.
She was killed while crossing the tracks behind Wat Sangkharacha, known as Wat Song, along the motorway frontage road on Soi Lat Krabang 3 in Lat Krabang district, Bangkok.
The fatal accident was reported to Lat Krabang police about 12.30am.
Police and rescue workers rushed to the scene found the woman’s body among the grass about 50 metres from an informal railway crossing.
The victim, Bussakorn Boonsri, 21. suffered severe head injuries and multiple abrasions. She was wearing a black long-sleeved shirt and grey trousers. Nearby was a heavily damaged motorcycle registered in Bangkok.
Freight train No.4403 was stopped about 100 metres further down the track towards Bang Sue station. The train driver was waiting for police to arrive.
Investigators said the woman was apparently returning home and attempted to use an unofficial shortcut that spans three railway tracks. There were no crossing barriers or lights.
Police were questioning the driver and other witnesses to determine whether any warning signal, such as the train horn, was sounded prior to the collision.
They were also working with the State Railway of Thailand, examining the train’s operating schedule as part of efforts to establish the exact cause of the accident.
The woman's body was sent for medical autopsy and relatives were being notified so they could arrange funeral rites.
