Four people were killed and two badly injured after the driver of a fuel tanker fell asleep at the wheel, hitting a roadside power pole before crashing into another vehicle in Nakhon Ratchasima on Thursday morning.
It happened at about 7am on Highway 24, in the northeastern province also known as Korat.
Rescuers called to the scene found the tanker, containing diesel fuel, on its side on the road median. The fuel was spilling across a large area.
Nearby was a white Toyota Fortuner with six passengers. Three were dead at the scene and one died at the hospital. Two others suffered severe injuries, rescuers said.
Local media reported the deceased and the injured had been travelling to congratulate their grandchild at a graduation ceremony.
The tanker driver, who sustained minor injuries, told police he was travelling to deliver fuel in Ubon Ratchathani and had fallen asleep while driving.
The vehicle hit a power pole on its left before veering off and crashing into the Fortuner, which was coming from a different direction across the median.
