Investigation of Injuries and Fatalities from a Motorcycle-Pickup Truck Collision in front of Kool Spring Water Factory, Ban Pueai, Phayu District, Sisaket Province.

Abstract

     A collision between a motorcycle and a pickup truck occurred on the Phayu-Khun Han Road, in front of the Cool Spring water factory, Ban Puey, Phrom Sawan Subdistrict, Phayu District, Sisaket Province, on October 24, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. The objective of the accident investigation was to examine the circumstances of the incident, identify the causes and contributing factors leading to severe injuries and fatalities, and collect data through interviews with eyewitnesses, rescue personnel, and police officers, as well as by inspecting road and vehicle conditions. Additionally, medical records of the injured parties from Phayu and Sisaket hospitals were reviewed. The investigation utilized the Haddon Matrix Model to analyze the factors contributing to the accident and injuries.
     The findings indicated that the motorcycle abruptly crossed into the left lane, resulting in a direct collision with the pickup truck approaching from behind. The motorcycle driver, a 65-year-old man with a history of alcohol consumption, was not wearing a helmet. He sustained severe head injuries, internal bleeding from liver and kidney lacerations, an open fracture in the left leg, and fractured ribs. The passenger, a 58-year-old woman, also without a helmet, suffered severe head injuries and a fractured left femur and was later transferred to Sisaket Hospital for further treatment. The primary causes of the accident were the motorcycle driver’s risky driving behaviors, including alcohol consumption, failure to wear a helmet, and sudden lane cutting. The road conditions—a straight road with a normal surface and good visibility—did not contribute as risk factors. However, the two-lane road without a central median increased the likelihood of sudden lane crossings. The factors leading to severe injuries and fatalities included the absence of helmet use, which resulted in significant head impacts, subdural hemorrhages, skull fractures, and severe abdominal injuries due to the side collision. Although emergency assistance and hospital transportation were promptly provided, the severity of the injuries, particularly to the head and abdomen, ultimately resulted in the deaths of both individuals.