PRACHUAP KHIRI KHAN: Six illegal Myanmar migrants were killed and 12 injured when the pickup they were travelling in crashed into the median divider fence on Phetkasem highway in Muang district early on Wednesday.
Five of the injured were reported to be in serious condition.
Pol Lt Col Suthep Jamikorn, duty investigator at Khlong Wan, said the accident occurred about 3am near kilometer marker 316+800 on the Bangkok-bound side of Phetkasem highway, near Nam Khao village in tambon Khlong Wan.
The black Chevrolet pickup crashed into the metal fence on the median strip of the highway.
The impact threw the passengers onto the highway, killing six and injuring 12 others, five seriously. The pickup driver fled before police and emergency services arrived, Pol Lt Col Suthep said.
After crashing into the fence, the pickup was hit from behind by a white Toyota van. Nobody in the van was hurt. The van driver said he was following closely behind the pickup and could not avoid hitting it.
The injured were taken to Prachuap Khiri Khan Hospital.
Police said the killed and injured were all from Mudong in Myanmar's Kachin State. They illegally crossed the border into Prachuap Khiri Khan and were on their way to jobs in Samut Sakhon.
A burst tyre caused the pickup to swerve into the median fence, police said.
Earlier on Tuesday night, 20 illegal Myanmar migrants were caught in Muang district.
About 11pm, a police-military patrol stopped a pickup on Wang Madua-Thammi road at Ban Hup Phai in tambon Huay Sai.
There 20 passengers, 17 men and three women. All were from Myanmar and had illegally crossed the border.
They were arrested and handed over to Muang police for legal proceedings and deportation.
