A motorcycle carrying four young footballers collided with a pickup truck in Loei Province, Thailand, at around 11pm on Monday (13 April).
This resulted in the death of four teenagers, identified as August, Ice, DR, and Satang.
They were aged between 14 and 16 and members of their school’s youth football team.
Source: Khaosod
Meanwhile, the pickup truck’s driver and passenger were injured in the incident.
DR’s mother said her son went out with his friends to celebrate Songkran, or Thai New Year, in Chiang Khan, Amarin TV reported.
The four teens were on their way home on a motorcycle when they collided with a pick-up truck at a curve.
Source: Matichon
According to the police, the severe impact caused the pickup truck to drag the motorcycle on the road for about 200 metres.
As a result, the motorcycle caught fire while the teens were thrown out of the vehicle.
The boys reportedly died at the scene, while the pickup truck’s driver and passenger sustained injuries and were taken to the hospital for treatment.
Police questioned the 28-year-old pickup truck driver, Wutthichai (name transliterated from Thai), AmarinTV reported.
However, he was unable to provide a statement, given his dazed condition.
Source: AmarinTV
After searching his vehicle, the authorities found a drug-smoking tube on the driver’s seat.
Allegedly, the driver had also been drinking before the incident. However, alcohol test results are still pending.
Source: AmarinTV
Footage from a resident also reportedly showed Wutthichai getting out of his truck shirtless and causing a commotion after the collision.
He then ran into a house 50 meters away from the scene, claiming he knew nothing, until police arrived and escorted him.
Currently, no charges have been filed against the pickup truck driver.
Distraught parents of the deceased teens allegedly seek a life sentence or even the death penalty for the suspect.
Also read: 4 teens in Melaka involved in head-on motorcycle collision, 3 die from injuries
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Featured image adapted from Khaosod, Matichon.