Van crashes into tree after clocking 143 km/h in Lampang

LAMPANG — On the morning of September 9, 2026, a van driver was left injured after his vehicle crashed into a tree in the middle of Ko Kha district's highway. Police reported that the van had been traveling at an alarming 143 kilometers per hour just moments before the crash occurred.

Ko Kha police received a call about a van colliding with a tree on Phahonyothin Road, between the Ko Kha-Sop Prap route and kilometre marker 667, while en route to Lampang city in Na Saeng subdistrict, Ko Kha district. Police collaborated with the Lampang Rescue Association's Ko Kha unit, dispatching an ambulance and rescue personnel to the scene.

The van, a white Toyota, bore a Samut Sakhon registration plate and was severely damaged upon impact with the tree. The front of the van was heavily crushed, and seats inside the vehicle were thrown about during the collision. The driver, reportedly between 40 and 45 years old, was found lying near the vehicle, suffering from a chest injury and appearing disoriented. Rescue workers administered first aid before transporting the man to Ko Kha Hospital for further medical attention.

Highway officers had set up a speed checkpoint roughly 1 kilometer from the crash site, which had recorded the van traveling at 143 km/h. Despite this, the van did not reach the checkpoint at the time of the accident. Authorities later learned of the crash and suspected the driver may have dozed off at the wheel, causing him to lose control and collide with the tree. However, investigators will now analyze the crash site and collect evidence to ascertain the precise cause of the accident.