After an accident in Kanchanaburi, authorities arrest suspected forest thieves and capture chainsaws.
PUBLISHED: 3 Jan 2025 at 18: 14
Nine international tourists were hurt when a wayside tree that was thought to have been cut improperly fell onto a vehicle on Friday morning. A saw and cutting saw were later found in the yard of a suspected forest poacher.
When the trees fell onto the vehicle carrying 30 Western travellers, according to Pol Lt Col Maneephat Phengkret, research chief at the Lat Ya police place, who was called at around 10am, on Highway 3199 in Tha Manao Village Moo 2 of tambon Wang Dong in Muang area.
The van with Kanchanaburi license plates parked on the road leading to the Erawan river in Sri Sawat district was discovered by local authorities, tourist police, rescuers, and restoration officers. The effects of the tree shattered the bonnet.
One male and eight women, among them, were among the nine international travelers who had broken tree branches and cup inflicted injuries to their legs, arms, and faces. First aid was administered to them before transporting them to a local clinic. After receiving care, they were afterward released. ( Story continues below )
The tree that fell onto the vehicle in Kanchanaburi carrying international visitors. ( Photo: Piyarach Chongcharoen )
The tree was discovered by authorities to be felled by an electrical saw, not by natural causes. Around the tree’s bottom, sand was discovered in clumps.
Paithoon Inthabut, mind of the Salak Phra wildlife sanctuary, ordered his team to meet with police to chase down those involved in illegal logging.
Afterwards, the group discovered a flimsy pickup truck traveling through a wooded area close to the location where the tree had fallen.
The group pursued the car, but they were able to stop it. The driver, identified just as Wasin, 39, of Bang Krathum area in Phitsanulok, was arrested, with a saw and a cutting saw seized.
He was detained to find out whether he had unlawfully felled the trees.
Firefighters give initial support to the wounded visitors. ( Photo: Piyarach Chongcharoen )
A 39-year-old male is being interrogated by police for cutting a tree that fell on a vehicle in Kanchanaburi on Friday. His pickup truck’s bed contained a axe and a pruning saw. ( Photo: Piyarach Chongcharoen )